Cambridge Open Studios
Cambridge Open Studios (COS) is one of the oldest open studio events in the country. It has its roots in the 1960s when a small group of artists invited local people to visit their studios and see how their art was produced, as part of a movement to demystify arts and make them available to all.
Today COS has around 370 members including painters, sculptors, jewellers, photographers, illustrators, furniture makers and many more, working in studios throughout Cambridgeshire. Its aim is to promote the making of original works of art and craft, and to forge a lasting relationship between local people and local makers.
COS was established as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1997. It is run by its members on a voluntary basis without outside financial support. This gives it autonomy and security in uncertain financial times.
Contacts
COS is run by volunteers so it may take a little time to respond to emails:
General enquiries: info@camopenstudios.co.uk
Membership enquiries: membership.secretary@camopenstudios.co.uk
Website enquires: webadmin@camopenstudios.co.uk
Open Studios Guide: editor@camopenstudios.co.uk
Management team
Chairmain: Roger Coleman
Company Secretary: Laurie van Someren
Treasurer: Martin Evans
Membership Secretary: Marion Curtis
Cambridge Open Studios is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales with company number 03317766 whose registered office is c/o Prentis & Co LLP, 115c Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XE.
While care is taken to exclude offensive material, Cambridge Open Studios is not responsible for the images or text on members' pages.
Annual Open Studios event
The annual Open Studios is the centrepiece of the COS calendar. It takes place over four weekends in July and typically over 200 members of COS participate with around 170 studios open to the public. The 2012 open studios will take place on July 7/8, July 14/15, July 21/22 and July 28/29. Members pay a participation fee to take part in Open Studios.
Galleries and arts organisations
Galleries and arts organisations in the Cambridge area can be featured in a special section at the front of the printed Cambridge Open Studios Guide and on our website. This allows them to promote events, exhibitions and other activities throughout the year and to be closely associated with a major annual arts event taking place across Cambridgeshire.
Content for this section must be provided no later than Friday 16 March 2012.
COS membership
Applications to join Cambridge Open Studios are taken between September and December. Membership of COS is open to all makers of original works of art and craft. Members must live, and have their regular studio, in the CB postcode area or within the boundaries of Cambridgeshire. Joining as an artist, at an annual subscription of £25 (plus initial registration fee of £25), entitles you to full voting membership and your own space on this website, which you will be able to update throughout the year. Members can participate in the annual Open Studio event in July by paying an additional participation fee. Enquiries about membership should be made to:
membership.secretary@camopenstudios.co.uk
Exhibitions and events
Exhibitions and events are held throughout the year by individual artists and groups – see our Events page for information about current events.
Friends
Now that Cambridge Open Studios is fully funded through members' subscriptions it is no longer in need of financial support. The Management Team would like to thank all its past FRIENDS for their long-standing commitment to COS and remind them to cancel any standing orders to COS as there remain one or two past FRIENDS who we have not been able to track down.
In the future we plan to launch a new free feature on the website to allow frequent visitors and supporters of the arts and crafts to enjoy the benefits of a closer association with the organisation. This will include receiving personal invitations to private views, events and exhibitions and the ability to be kept informed about your favourite artists.
