Artist Call-out : Site Festival Open Studios 2025
Site Festival in Stroud (est. 1997) brings a range of exciting artist-led events this June 2025, and we invite artists to take part - even if you're not based in Stroud! There are a myriad of accessible ways to take part in the festival, and SVA continues to support emerging artists through discounts and a bursary.
Although in recent years Open Studios has been more centred around Stroud town, we're very keen to invite more of our art community based in Cam, Dursley, Wotton-under-Edge and the rural spaces in between. So if you have a studio in Cam, Dursley, Wotton-under-Edge or in between get in touch for a 20% discount off registration fees.
29 years ago SVA launched Site Festival and Open Studios alongside the renovations of the building in John Street. Since then the festival has grown and evolved with the landscape of the Arts in the South West. Open Studios as a concept has become an incredibly popular and accessible way to discover new artists and embed our communities. It celebrates the incredible diversity of creative talent that exists here in the valleys, supports artists making a living from their work and builds meaningful connections in the artistic community.
Site Festival Programme
Each year the festival programme seeks to challenge boundaries, bring high calibre exhibitions and installations to Stroud, and raise awareness of the incredible diversity in the arts. Talks from curators at Tate Modern, residencies for artists from different countries, and workshops to engage the public - every year is different and is an incredible resource and platform for local artists, plus an engaging choice of events for visitors.
Who can take part?
The festival is open to anyone with an art practice in the Stroud District, or anyone who would like to base themselves here for Site Festival. We regularly collaborate with artists from surrounding areas such as Gloucester and Bristol, but have also had visiting artists from Berlin and much further.
The word OPEN not only reflects the open studio door welcoming curious visitors to discover the wonderful world of the artist’s studio but also it reflects SVA’s OPENNESS to all artists of all backgrounds, ages, disciplines and experience. “Open Studios” is not selective and we welcome conversations with artists who may be held back in their practice. Artists can take part in many different ways, and can register at sitefestival.org.uk until 14th February for Open Studios, or 28th February for artist collectives.
Image Credit: Hannah O'Kelly
Image alt text: Bold lime text saying 'Open Studios' over an oil painting by Hannah O'Kelly, of a flamoyant looking white woman with bright red lipstick, big flowers on her head and a mischievious twinkle in her eyes. All on a rich blue background.