Derbyshire Open Arts promotes an annual art event on the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May. Individuals and groups organise their own studios and venues but join together under this umbrella organisation. Artists and crafts people open their studios to the public or exhibit with others in a combined venue such as a village hall or art gallery. It gives visitors an opportunity to see the breadth of art that is created in Derbyshire, to meet the creators, and to purchase or commission works direct from the maker.
In 2023 over 210 artists and craftspeople took part, selling and exhibiting work in many different venues countywide. Derbyshire Open Arts continues to be funded entirely by artists' subscriptions and is run by volunteers. It is a formally constituted organisation which exists solely for its members who are artists, artisans, arts organisations, galleries and those with an interest in the arts in Derbyshire.
For more information about the committee please see Our Team
The object of Derbyshire Open Arts is to:
- Advance public learning and understanding of the diverse range of art across Derbyshire.
- Provide a platform for artists to promote their work.
- Provide a free opportunity for the public to engage with exhibiting and practicing artists at work, and in their own workspace.
Our Main Aims:
- To facilitate and promote a festival that will meet the needs of Derbyshire’s visual arts community
- To encourage a comprehensive and diverse range of artists to show and sell their work to the public in their working environment or at other venues.
- To promote the festival in ways that engage the interest and enthusiasm of the visiting public.
- Provide opportunities for artists to network with others, sell artwork and gain in professional development
- To help raise the economic and artistic profile of the region
Further information
All venues are free to visit. In addition to the information on this website, there is a free, downloadable brochure, available by clicking here after the end of March 2024, when the new brochure will be available. Printed brochures are available across and beyond Derbyshire in libraries, tourist information centres, hotels, pubs, local shops and with our artists.
Should you need to get in touch with us, we can be contacted via email at [email protected]. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.