Artists? Open Houses All 'under One Roof' For First Time
Published 4th May 2005 by Lisa O'Connor

1000 artists - 170 open houses - 1 colour brochure.

For the first time ever, 1000 artists exhibiting in 170 ?OPEN HOUSES? during this year?s Brighton Festival will be listed in one, user-friendly 80-page brochure.

For four weekends in May, the Artists' Open Houses of Brighton and Hove and the surrounding area become the biggest FREE art exhibition in Britain. It?s a unique opportunity to see art displayed in an informal domestic setting and buy affordable artworks direct from the artist or maker. Visitors also love the chance to view the many interesting studios and beautiful homes and gardens of working artists.

Most Open Houses are grouped geographically into ?Trails?, such as Fiveways, Kemptown and Hanover artists. In previous years, the Trails produced their own separate brochures or were listed in different Festival brochures. New for 2005 will be a single brochure, which includes:
? all 12 Trails illustrated with hundreds of colour photographs
? easy to read maps
? chance to book special artist-led guided tours
? details about which Open Houses offer refreshments, live music or an open garden
? information about access for wheelchair users and parking
? plus many more independent Open Houses, Open Studios and small friendly galleries

The free brochure will be available from Thursday 28 April from venues around Brighton & Hove including the Visitor Information Centre and Jubilee Library.

Fred Pipe says of the brochure ?As an artist involved in the Beyond the Level trail since it began in 1996, when I opened my car to the public, I think a one-stop brochure is long overdue. Visiting Open Houses is a great adventure -- you never know what's going to be behind that door. As well as paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture, you'll also find ceramics, furniture, jewellery, stained glass, clothing, greetings cards - and cake! - in fact all of the applied crafts, on sale direct from the maker/designer or craftsperson. Many exhibitors are professional artists, with international reputations, but its also a showcase for new, local artists and guests. The Brighton and Hove Artists' Open Houses model is so successful, it has been emulated by artists' groups and arts festivals up and down the UK. But the Brighton and Hove Artists' Open Houses remains the biggest and best.?

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