Welcome to our 'Lost and Found' or 'Lonely HeArts' page. 

This is the year to get back out there and put art back into the community. Remember to use our PRIVATE HVA Members Only Facebook group to chat to other Members for ideas and connections. 

If you do want to take part at a physical venue, a pop-up, or gallery, you will need to have arranged use of that space before registering. If it is your own studios, all well and good. We know that, especially this year, the option of doing Open Studios in a pop-up or other more public space may be a more comfortable option than a private studio. We're always looking for new or familiar venues that are happy to host a group for Open Studios. Similarly we are happy to encourage new ideas.

Working in Groups: Groups work collectively, collaborating to develop their Open Studios and sharing responsibilities for all aspects of their time as a group. 

Venues you can suggest?

Perhaps you know a local pop-up, cafe, pub, community hall, art shop, framer or gallery, a big wide open space where you could stage a 'takeover', anything that might be able to host Open Studios. Let's get creative. The first thing is for you to contact them to see if you can do Open Studios there yourself. 

Please, if you know of community spaces that we can add to this list, let us know on openstudios@hvaf.org.uk

Looking for something?

We want to help everyone who wants to take part. Artists wanting to join a group or find a venue should:

• post a 'wanted' message in our PRIVATE HVA Members only Facebook group, remember to say where you are based, what you do and what you are looking for (a link to your HVA Gallery page would be good too)
• get in touch with other artists you know, to see if you can put a group together - someone may have a venue in mind already
• stay in touch with your area coordinator, go to local meetings to see if they know of anything already
• email openstudios@hvaf.org.uk if you are happy for your details to be listed here on this page for others to see.

Venues/Groups we know about

This year, we already know of some places that can host Open Studios groups or individual, some via Area Coordinators, some via individual conversations. We are also happy to hear about groups who have a plan and can take extra artists.

In all cases, please satisfy yourself that the location and offering is suitable for you, and remember that the venue may have specific frameworks or requirements that you must meet. Try not to be disappointed if you get in touch and find that they already have someone, or that you can't be there because it doesn't suit your work or your availability. 

Artists, when checking out a share/other space, make sure you are clear as to:

• what space you can use/can have access to and when
• how you will get there, set up, park
• opening hours, publicity, promotion, access
• how you will work together/collaborate as equal partners if sharing with other Members
• what you will do to fairly split any costs or access to space
• how you will look after other peoples' work
• how you work together to meet/greet/offer refreshments
• whether and how you can demonstrate your work/creativity
• how you will work together to promote all the work/information to visitors/take sales

 

Please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

North: Please contact nherts@hvaf.org.uk if you are interested in groups in this area.

• Letchworth Settlement has space for a few (2D only) artists
• Junction 7 Creatives can house up to 4 artists
• Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre has space for 4 artists

Central: Please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

East: Please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available. Please contact eherts@hvaf.org.uk. Manuden Church are keen to host HVA artists during Open Studios. There is no venue hire but a commission on sales. Please get in touch with Glynis: glynisprothero@aol.com to find out more.

South/Barnet/North London: Please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

South West:

• The Salt Cave in Borehamwood have offered their therapy centre as a venue. Please contact Ildiko Szocs-Dee,who is more than happy to host artist's work in our reception area. For more information please contact Dee at: 07963392299. www.saltcavehalotherapy.co.uk 
• Henderson Hub, Abbots Langley.
• Artistsmeet at Rickmansworth (contact Elaine.Johnson@ThreeRivers.gov.uk) can offer a space for a 2D artist to exhibit from July through September. 
• Reveley Lodge can house artists in their venue. Please contact Gail for more information.

West/Dacorum: There may be other pop-ups or spaces available, but also please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

• Artistsmeet at Rickmansworth (contact Elaine.Johnson@ThreeRivers.gov.uk) can offer a space for a 2D artist.
• Hemel Hempstead Town centre has a pop-up for Dacorum artists only being managed by our Dacorum Area Coordinator dacorum@hvaf.org.uk
• Henderson Hub, Abbots Langley

North West/Harpenden/Villages: There may be other pop-ups or spaces available, but also please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

The Workhouse in Dunstable is happy to be an OS venue again for 2023. Please contact Jo for details: joanne@theworkhousedunstable.co.uk

St Albans: There may be other pop-ups or spaces available, but also please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

• Trestle Arts Base in St Albans (contact Elaine.Johnson@ThreeRivers.gov.uk) can offer a space for a 2D artist - this space is now taken.
• Sofas and Stuff in St Albans are interested to host artists who compliment their shop, particularly anyone creating patterns, or historical tones (William Morris). Please contact Sofas and Stuff to find out more. Please visit the venue to make sure this matches your needs: claire.booker@sofasandstuff.com.