» Artists Open Houses
A long standing Brighton and Hove tradition, Artists Open Houses are back once again for 2008
Voted the ‘Best Cultural Event of 2007’ at last year’s Brighton and Hove Business Awards, the Brighton Festival of Artists Open Houses is a great opportunity to view work by leading local artists and makers in their own homes and studios. Established in 1986, Artists Open Houses (www.aoh.org.uk) in Brighton looks forward to its 28th year in May 2008. 220 venues and over 1,000 artists will showcase new work in a unique way. Timed to coincide with Brighton Festival, the city becomes an organic creature of culture, feeding 300,000 visitors to the houses alone.
Walking from house to house, by the coast and in the company of collectors, house hunters, designers, families and celebrities, the experience of open houses entertains, nourishes and inspires everyone who visits. AOH gives a rare opportunity for the public to view art exhibited in the homes and studios of Brighton and Hove artists.
From beach hut to Regency villa, there is a vast range of work exhibited from painting to sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, furniture, jewellery, stained glass, furnishings and textiles. As well as their own work, local artists also have guest exhibitors, sometimes from further afield. It is a chance to buy the recent work of professionals before it hits the galleries. AOH is open for four weekends in May and for two weekends leading up to Christmas. Whether you enjoy architecture, gardens, interiors, art, performance or food, AOH has something to offer.
Often with the artists and makers present, and in an open and welcoming environment, individuals can look, chat, commission or buy without pressure and with the luxury of enjoying the work in a domestic space. AOH is the largest open house event in the UK, and for the more adventurous, it offers open house trails further afield in the surrounding countryside. Many of the houses have beautiful gardens, fabulous homemade food or live performance, making the event a true sensory delight. With green issues firmly in the public domain, visitors can travel with ease by train, bus, tuk tuk or Green Car Club vehicles, eat organic food and acquire works of art, home-grown and fairly traded.
The Open Houses give open access to all artists, with many of the exhibitors being professional illustrators and makers with international reputations. Opening times are mostly 12-6pm, during the first four weekends of May, although some open earlier. There will be curated tours during May. For more information or to receive a copy of the brochure, visit:
www.aoh.org.uk or
youtube.com/user/visitbrightonfilms2 or alternatively, contact Rhoda Barker at:
rhodabarker@phonecoop.coop.
AOH is a not-for-profit organisation.
