Susan Kester
The 2021 Open Studios Directory
View the Site Festival 2021 Open Studios Directory online here and pick up a printed copy from SVA and other locations around Stroud.
The directory gives information on the 102 participating artists who showed their work in 37 open studio locations in September.
A warm welcome to Open Studios 2021
After such a challenging 18 months (or more!) no one would blame the artists and organisers of Site Open Studios if they threw the towel in but this year they have come back bigger than ever with over 100 artists taking part, many of them for the very first time.
Stroud is a unique place, famed for its award-winning farmers market, being the birth place of Extinction Rebellion, and of course the glorious countryside. We all appreciated those green valleys all the more during lockdown and yes, this year Stroud was named as ‘Best Place to live in the UK’ (Sunday Times). It was praised, among other things, for its strong community spirit and what better way to celebrate that than getting out and visiting some artists’ studios! It takes some guts to open up your studio to the public, this year more than ever, so I’m looking forward to seeing what strange and curious delights they hold.
I hope you enjoy the adventure too and maybe you’ll bring a piece of that wonderful Stroud creativity home with you!
Lorraine Robbins, artist
Milligan Beaumont’s studio, Open Studios Artist
Open Studios
18th-19th and 25th-26th September 2021
102 artists open their studio doors in 37 locations in the Stroud Valleys over 2 weekends.
The ‘Taster’ exhibition at Stroud Brewery offers visitors a great opportunity to see one piece of work by each of the Open Studio artists to help plan studio visits over the two weekends.
Taster exhibition at Stroud Brewery. photo by Lucian Taylor
Programme
18th-26th September 2021
Over 160 artists exhibiting and performing in exhibitions and events in Stroud.
Greer Pester, a Scottish visual and social artist, was resident at SVA and ran kids workshops. Her colourful palette embodies the exotic, taking enrichment from many years living and working in Mexico. The Women’s Art Activation System invited the public to contribute artworks to ‘The Bureau for the Validation of Art’ in the John St Gallery.
At Woodchester Mansion, ‘Floating Flaws, Abandoned tools and unrealised dreams’, an exhibition by Paul Grellier and Jo Nathan, responds to this unique and time lost place, explored through sculpture, painting, sound and moving image. Sheppard Fidler + Stapleford presented an immersive site specific installation of sculpture, sound and video works for ‘leave / stay / arrive’ at Three Storeys in Nailsworth. ‘Mega Mega’, at the Goods Shed, marked the beginning of a fresh look at the relationships between fashion, textiles and contemporary art practice, exploring the innovative explorations of artists pushing the boundaries of this medium that is rooted in Stroud via its textile heritage.
Check out other exhibitions and events at the Subscription rooms, Studio 18, Victoria Works and the Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative.
Explore Artists’ Studios in the Stroud Valleys
There are so many fantastic artist studios to discover along the 6 Open Studio routes starting with Route 1 in the town centre and and then Routes 2-6 stretch out along the Five Valleys out to Bisley, Golden Valley, Valley and Vale, Nailsworth, Painswick and Slad.
Nicola Grellier’s studio at SVA.
SVA supporting artists since 1996
Site Festival Open Studios was launched in 1997, just a year after SVA was set up, with the opening of the John Street Studios for the first time to the public. For us it was really important that SVA was not just about the building but about the community of artists who lived out in the Five Valleys, working in their spare rooms, sheds and on their kitchen worktops as well as the more formal studio spaces.
The word OPEN not only reflects the open studio door welcoming curious visitors to discover the wonderful world of the artists studio but also it reflects SVA’s OPENNESS to all artists of all backgrounds, ages, disciplines and experience. Open Studios is not selected and we positively welcome conversations with artists who are facing barriers to developing their practice.
Site Festival Open Studios celebrates the incredible diversity of creative talent that exists here in the Valleys, supports artists making a living from their work and builds meaningful social connections in the community.
In Stroud town centre, you will find SVA, a central Open Studios hub with over 26 open studios artists. There is an eclectic mix of with independent shops, cafés and galleries and home to one of the best Farmers’ Markets in the country.
The town is set against the dramatic backdrop of the beautiful Five Valleys, just 90 minutes by train from London. Stroud is well-known for its industrial heritage and visitors can visit artists in the former textile mills such as Griffin Mill and Victoria Works along the valleys.
Artists Information
The directory gives information on the 86 participating artists who showed their work in 43 open studio locations in September.
Open Studios is a great way to meet artists, find out more about the ideas behind their work and the techniques they use. Feel free to use the directory for contact information, if you would like to arrange to view artwork now that the Open Studios weekends have passed.
Open Studio Hubs
Over the last few years we have been promoting groups of artists as Open Studio Hubs.
This year Open Studio Hubs opened at SVA, Piccadilly Mill, The Old Co-op, Woodchester Mansion, Victoria Works, Chestnut Hill Studios, Three Storeys and Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative who brought together a wonderful mix of artists.
Taster Exhibition at Stroud Brewery
Stroud Brewery, Kingfisher Business Park, London Road, Thrupp, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2BY
