About South West Open Studios

South West Open Studios (SWOS) is an independent organisation that aims to promote the development and sustainability of artists' Open Studio and Art Trail organisations in the South West by:

providing information, professional development and support for organisers and promoters of events

raising the profile and advocating on behalf of Open Studios

fostering partnerships between organisations and encouraging good practice

increasing public awareness, understanding and enjoyment of Open Studios events in the region

SWOS is funded by the Arts Council England, and works in collaboration with ArtsMatrix and Creative Skills to provide these services. We also recommend working with Audience South West, the region's audience development advice service.

How SWOS fits into the National framework for Open Studios support

Open Studios have become an increasingly important part of the visual arts and crafts landscape across the country with new events springing up each year. In the South West region there are at least 38 - either multi-site events ranging in size to cover anything from a few streets to entire counties, or events centred on single buildings housing a number of studios.

Often the workload in organising such events can put almost intolerable pressure on a few individuals and this is compounded as the events grow in scale. The negative effects of this can be at best to compromise organisers’ own art practice and at worst their health and sanity, which does not make for sustainability.

In November 2002 a few OS organisers in the South West thought that a forum through which resources and information could be pooled would be a valuable service for all organisers which may relieve some of the pressure and take some of the donkey work out of putting on events.

The Artist Led Initiative Advisory Service (ALIAS) at Arts Council England South West supported the fledgling South West Open Studios (SWOS) until it was successful in gaining funding (£45K) through Grants for the Arts to further develop the organisation. SWOS also has a Service Level Agreement with ArtsMatrix to provide training for OS organisers in 2007/08 and will continue to seek sources of funding for future developments.

Following an ACE-funded study in 2002 into the rise and significance of the Open Studios model by Sheffield artist, Keith Hayman, and the subsequent 2003 conference in Sheffield, Arts Council England have recently awarded £100K over three years for the development of a similar organisation for the benefit of multi-site open studio events across the country. This organisation is known as the Open Studios Network (OSN).

Jackie Donaldson who is currently the Project Manager for SWOS now represents the South West on the Core Development Team of the OSN.

One role common to both organisations is to lobby appropriate local, regional and national bodies and agencies on behalf of Open Studios organisations. Of vital importance in our effectiveness in this regard is the collection of compelling data which will help make the case for ongoing recognition and financial support.

SWOS is already quite a long way down the road of devising comparable questionnaires in order to collect data from event participators and visitors and these will form part of the resources available elsewhere on this site.

OSN are also collecting baseline data from as many OS organisations as possible and would be grateful if those in the South West would complete the Open Studio Research Questionnaire.

With the growing awareness of and seemingly limitless public interest in Open Studios it is a very good time to get involved in the networks that exist, both as an aid to you and your own organisation and at the same time to strengthen the networks and lend weight to their efforts on your behalf.

Jackie Donaldson, SWOS
January 2007

SWOS Directors are:

Bill Crumbleholme, Chair (Dorset)
Jackie Donaldson, Secretary and Project Manager (Dorset)
Bryony Leatherbarrow (Gloucestershire)
Ron Pybus, (Wiltshire)
Sally Reay, Web Editor (Bristol)
Carole Carey (Somerset)

You can contact SWOS Directors by emailing us using our firstname@southwestopenstudios.org

Steering Group:

Peter Stiles, Arts Council England South West
Annie Taylor (North Somerset)

South West Open Studios (SWOS) is a Community Interest Company, registered in the UK as Company No. 6035151. The registered office is:

Unit 14, Mellstock Farm,
Higher Bockhampton,
Dorchester,
Dorset, DT2 8QJ

Jackie Donaldson can be contacted on 01305 756874.

You can download copies of our Community Interest Company documentation here:

CIC 36 Declarations on Formation of a Community Interest Company

Memorandum of Association of South West Open Studios Community Interest Company