How do I get involved | Herts Visual Arts

Registration for Herts Open Studios is now closed.

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Herts Visual Arts (HVAF) is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation run by/for artists, artisans and designer-makers who live or work in or near Hertfordshire. Our members have wide-ranging opportunities and benefits throughout the membership year (1st April – 31st March) in addition to Open Studios. Take a look at our membership pages for more information.

Our artists take part for many reasons. Everyone has different priorities, challenges, ideas and motivations, depending on their personal art journey. From artists starting out in their living room or garage for the first time, to established artists with a secure customer base - everyone is different. Whether you open your working studio, use a space in your home, put on an exhibition, work solo or with others, there are many benefits. Being part of Open Studios is a cost-effective way to take your work directly to a County-wide audience, show your work, talk about your techniques and inspirations, listen to visitors and perhaps sell something. While sales are lovely, they can also be unpredictable and variable, but it is an opportunity nonetheless, and showing your work to a wider audience may result in future sales or commissions.

Wider benefits relate to new experiences, developing skills, having fun, meeting new/existing customers and extending your business/art networks and practice. The message from repeat Open Studios participants is clear: each Open Studios is part of a journey, a step or two into your future, another opportunity to meet and connect with new artists and customers, to develop your art practice, and more. Individual objectives for any year may be totally different from previous or future years. Where will your journey take you?

Can non-HVAF members take part?

Herts Open Studios is a members-only event.

When taking part, please do not include any work by non-members in your Open Studios, even as a friendly gesture. Please do not invite non-members to exhibit with you – you may be barred from future events.

The only exceptions to the above are two very special cases designed to encourage participation, personal development and perhaps future membership: school and art class/therapy group entries. For these two categories, the lead artist must be a member. Other participating artists are not identified in our marketing materials.

What kind of art can I display?

The work must be your own, made by you. It must fit the themes and ethos of Herts Visual Arts and Open Studios.  It must be safe for visitors and suitable for a general audience, including children.

How do I take part if I don’t have a space of my own?

If you don’t have a venue or group, try contacting other artists in your area to share studio space. You can also look for shops, local halls or exhibition space – the possibilities are endless. You don’t have to use your own home, or even join in close to your home – you can use any suitable individual or group space available across the County.

Groups are a really good way to make the most of Open Studios. Take a look at previous brochures for ideas about working in groups. Venues and groups sometimes get in touch with HVAF to offer spaces, and individual artists can ask for a space or for a share. Opportunities (venues, groups and artists) that HVAF finds out about will be on Facebook and the Website. See below for how we can support artists looking for venues. If you have a venue or artist in mind, contact them directly to see if it would work for you. Visit Need a Venue if you are looking for someone/somewhere or can offer a space/share.

As you prepare, you may find that working with other artists gives you a shared purpose and ideas for how to make the most of this month.

Do I have to be around for the whole of Open Studios?

No, you can be available for as much or as little as you want. However, to maximise visitors to your Gallery page, and your venue, we recommend that you:

  • Have an active social media and promotion plan, and
  • You take part in some of the HVA promotions that will happen before and during OS

Your visitors will have clicked through Galleries and other information to look at your work and get in touch. Please make sure their journey is worthwhile and that you can respond to them in a reasonable time-frame.

For Open Studios venues you can open as much or as little as you like. However, to maximise visitors, we recommend that you:

  • Open any physical venue for at least 5 days, and
  • Coordinate at least some of your opening days/hours with nearby artists
  • Make one weekend day and one mid-week day common in your local area.

You must, however, be open and present to receive visitors on each of your selected in-person days, during the hours that you have publicised. Weekends are generally busier, with more visitors. Your visitors will have made a special trip to see you, sometimes travelling long distances, please make sure their journey is worthwhile.