Herts Visual Arts Open Studios Back for 2021
Herts Visual Arts is bringing artists, artisans and art-lovers together for inspiration, discovery and a rich opportunity – art in the heart of our communities across Hertfordshire. Running now for more than 30 years, Herts Open Studios remains a popular and well-established part of the annual Hertfordshire art calendar. This year Herts Open Studios runs from 18 September to 10 October, with lead-in promotion from 11 September. It’s Hertfordshire’s largest county-wide art event with every venue free-to-enter, again delivering 3 weeks of live, in-person art. Visitors can enjoy everything from classical to contemporary, decorative to functional, figurative to abstract, wall-hung to 3D art.
The recent successful and very busy Big Art Fair in Hitchin clearly demonstrated a great thirst for being out and about. HVA are delighted to be sharing art with the world again and know that visitors are ready too. Who’s up for the adventure and exceptional opportunity to let our art unfold? Visitors can expect to be inspired by original artwork, prints and greetings cards. What can be more exciting that the chance to experience, or even perhaps purchase a special piece of art, direct from the artist? Let’s get out there – what will you discover?
The original In-Person Open Studios format is now backed by all the virtual capability developed in 2020, and there are artists taking part in person or online. New web- and social media-based Virtual Open Studios features allow Open Studios to be enjoyed 24 hours a day, wherever the visitor might be: at home, on the road or at a venue.
The website is an invitation for the whole of Hertfordshire (and beyond) to join this amazing celebration of the visual arts. Powerful, simple and effective searches allow viewers to explore trails via art media, Theme, location, opening day or other personal criteria. A special section includes live information, featuring up-to-the-minute news from around the county, collated from social media. Would you like a personal virtual appointment with one of the Open Studios Artists? Just get in touch via their Gallery page to arrange an appointment. Want to see working studios? There will be plenty of in-person options and also video studio tours to browse. Want to find out more about an artist? Again, biographies and meet-the-artist videos are a simple and informative way to start.
2021 features the daily Themes that proved so very popular in 2020 when they were introduced. Artists take this inspiration to present or discuss different aspects of their art practice with daily Flipbooks, videos, live social media streams and online exhibitions. To illustrate just three of this year’s 23 Themes, there’s a nod to the Olympics with Going for Gold, expect visitors to enjoy Small Pleasures, or perhaps spend some time with Reflections.
Finding an Open Studio is simple. Use the website and re-designed online e-brochure to plan your visits before you set out. On the street, just look for yellow bunting, direction arrows and banners outside venues. The yellow pavement branding is like a friend to welcome you at the gate, saying ‘Come on in’.
‘With many new artists joining our event alongside long-standing participants, there is just so much to explore,’ said Herts Visual Arts Chair, Sally Taylor. She continued, ‘It’s wonderful to see the excitement already building, as our artists prepare to open their doors in September. We look forward to welcoming all our visitors – In-Person and Online.’
Visit www.hvaf.org.uk for further details.