Dorset Artist Open Studios began by listening to honest feedback from artists across the county, followed by extensive research into successful open studio models in neighbouring counties.

It became clear that in today’s economic climate, many artists were missing out on genuine opportunities. We identified four crucial needs that were not being met:

Radical Transparency

Knowing exactly how things are run, financial and organisational.

True Value

Affordable fees with clear understanding on what your fees are used for.

Impactful Visibility

High-quality signage and promotion.

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Meaningful Representation

Giving artists real influence rather than superficial presence, artists voice being heard.

To bridge this gap, a steering group of local artists united to volunteer their time. Our goal is to host an event without any commercial agenda; every penny of your participation fee is reinvested directly into the event.

We are incredibly grateful for the local support that has made this possible. A regional web firm has donated our digital hosting, while a Dorset graphic designer crafted our visual identity. We are currently collaborating with more local partners to ensure our artists have the platform they deserve.

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Join us as we build an event for now, and the future, where creatives always come first.