Artists Open Houses Festival Summer 2021
Mark Tulley, Group Sales Director of the Gemini Print Group is once again leading the search for the Artist of the Year and Photographer of the Year. “Seeing the great enthusiasm for this year’s festival, after all the challenges everyone has been facing for the last year, the Gemini Print team are inviting everyone to get involved by nominating their favourites.”
You can help the judges discover talent by simply emailing marketing@gemini-print.co.uk with the name of the artist, the AOH where they are exhibiting, and a couple of comments about why you are nominating them.
The Artists Open Houses festival, the largest event of its kind in the UK, is taking place across Brighton, Hove, and villages beyond over five weekends – running through to June 27. June will be a giant month of culture in the city as Brighton Fringe has also moved to June.
Free to visit, the Artists Open Houses festival will see over 1,000 artists and makers open the doors to their houses or studio spaces in more than 100 venues to exhibit and sell their artwork direct to the public.
The Artists Open Houses gives festival-goers an exclusive snapshot of how artists live and work. There is a hugely diverse selection of artworks on show, from original paintings, prints, ceramics and textiles to photography, sculpture, crafts, jewellery and more.
In addition to hundreds of proven favourites, the Festival includes a valuable opportunity for young, new and emerging talent who have had some particular challenges with the cancellations of degree shows that are typically their key chance to show their work. Their unit is in Churchill Square so very easy to access – whatever the weather decides to do.
The houses are grouped into one of 14 trails around different areas of the city and beyond, each with its own unique character and atmosphere – from the beautiful Regency houses in Brunswick to the colourful fishermen’s houses of Hanover to the urban warehouse spaces of the North Laine and cottages of the South Downs village of Ditchling.
Judy Stevens, Festival Director says ‘In our new June slot, alongside Brighton Fringe, the Artists Open Houses are a central part of the cultural recovery for our city. The AOH Festival will offer the first glimpse of brilliant new work from artists and makers emerging from the months of lockdown.’
Brighton based artist Becky Blair is the artist chosen to create a piece of artwork for the 2021 AOH brochure cover and winnerof the AOH Brochure Cover Artist’s Award. Her lively and eclectic style, combined with her vivid use of colour and dream-like reflections, has seen her highly-sought-after work sold through exhibitions and private commissions internationally. Her latest paintings are derived from her sketches from the Sussex coast, collages of remembering’s, expressing the joy of living. From her own experience of darker times (Becky had to give up painting for 12 months after being diagnosed with Lupus), she feels that as an artist it is her desire to share joy. Becky will be exhibiting at 66 Brading Road, Brighton, BN2 3PD. Instragram @beckyblairartist
Full listings can be found at www.aoh.org.uk
