Need a venue? | Herts Visual Arts

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 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'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 HVAF Members only Facebook group, remember to say where you are based, what you do and what you are looking for (a link to your HVAF 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. 

We will share information here as it comes to our notice/available. Below are the Area Coordinator emails, please contact the relevant one if you are interested in sharing a space. There may be other pop-ups or spaces available, but also please get in touch if you know of any venues/shares available.

Members with a venue they are willing to share with another artist:

  • East Herts: Marilyn Andreetti is a ceramicist with some space in her studio. Contact her on mandreetti@btinternet.com to find out more. 
  • North Herts: Kim Raymont who is a printmaker and painter has some space in her studio.  Contact her on kimraymont@yahoo.co.uk to find out more.
  • North Herts: Jane List is as a printmaker with space to share in her studio, preferably with a 3D artist e.g. a ceramicist, or a jeweller.  Contact her on janeannlist@gmail.com to find out more.

Venues you can contact

Please contact the following venues to find out more:

  • Baldock - Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre has space for a 3D artist.  Contact the lead artist, Gillian Weddle, on gillian.weddle@gmail.com to find out more.
  • Berkhamsted - Open Door (https://www.opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk/): a community café and arts space, has availability for one or more artists. They are open 10.30am-3.30pm Mon-Fri and 10am-1pm on Saturdays. For further information on the space available and costs, contact Amanda Cooper on amanda.cooper@opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk
  • Dunstable - The Workhouse (www.theworkhousedunstable.co.uk/) has some availability - to find out more, contact Joanne on Joanne@joanneshewan.co.uk.
    • There is space for wall artists (2m 30cm wide x floor to ceiling high) and 3D/shelf artists (3 shelves approx. 70cm x 30cm).
    • The price is £120 for six weeks including Open Studios (28 August to 5 October). 20% commission on sales. Open Wednesdays to Fridays 10am-3pm and Saturdays 10am-5pm
    • We aim for each artist to do half a day per week, if possible, to help run the Gallery and demonstrate.
    • We are flexible on this point but it is obviously better for artists to have a chance to talk about and show their own work.
    • There is also the opportunity for participating artists to run workshops in our room upstairs.
    • There is a market outside the Gallery on 14th and 21st September and free parking on Wednesday afternoons.
  • Harpenden - Shimmering Ivory: Sian Hughes, www.shimmeringivory.co.uk/. Sian is a bridal Couture, working from a barn in Peters Green near Harpenden with good parking. There may be basic costs to cover. Please discuss dates and opening times with Sian.
  • Kings Langley - Henderson Hub has availability. Contact Jackie Uphill on jackieuphill41@googlemail.com if you are interested in joining a group of 6-8 artists in this venue.  Alternatively contact Kerry on 01623 729661 or manager@henderson-hub.org.uk. 
  • Letchworth - The Three Horseshoes pub on a busy road from Stotfold to Letchworth. The Function Room has space for several artists, displaying on easels or table tops. There are two free standing timber grid panels which could be used to hang paintings. Contact  Val Lawson, nherts@hvaf.org.uk, for further details and availability.
  • Letchworth - Two Chimneys pub on the busy Stotfold to Hitchin Road has space in the restaurant annexe. Contact Val Lawson, nherts@hvaf.org.uk if you are interested in joining a small group there.
  • Letchworth - The Settlement has space for a 3D artist. Contact the lead artist tg.art@btinternet.com if you are interested in joining this group.
  • St. Albans - Trestle Theatre Company. Contact Elaine Johnson at Elaine.Johnson@ThreeRivers.gov.uk for availability and details.
  • Stanstead Abbotts - The Lounge, in the Maltings Business Centre. Email: natalie@sokafood.co.uk or speak to Natalie on 07983727666.
  • Stevenage - Stevenage Museum, St Georges Way. www.stevenage.gov.uk/stevenage-museum. Speak to the Museum Manager Jo Ward on 01438 218881. There is a table top case available which could suit 3D work plus tables in the foyer. They could also book out the Lecture Room for Saturdays and a day a week.
  • Stevenage - Stevenage Central Library is offering space in the front of their lobby area. They normally charge a hire fee of £16.50 for all or part of a day, but artists are able to offer a free demonstration or drop-in session then the charge would be waived for that day. Michelle Lloyd (T: 01438 219024, E: michelle.lloyd@hertfordshire.gov.uk) is very happy to discuss further with any interested artist(s), so do get in touch.
  • Ware - &Bydonnareeves: Donna Reeves, www.andbydonnareeves.com/
  • Ware - Place House Hall: www.placehousehall.org/. Place House Hall have availability for Sat 7th, Sat 14th and the weekend of 28/29th. Cost is £90 per day. There are plenty of tables plus felt panels which can be used. Please email enquiries@placehousehall.org.
  • Wendover - A Little Bird Told Me Gallery (www.alittlebirdtoldmegallery.com/) has space in the area above this busy and popular gallery/shop shop. Contact the Gallery manager, Melanie, for further details -  E: info@alittlebirdtoldmegallery.com, Tel: 01296 620428.

Here is a website you can view to find halls for hire - great for a group of artists to share. There may be costs involved, but please have a look at what is available and contact the venues directly. www.hallshire.com/