Online:
21 November – 31 December
Visit in person:
5 – 13 December*
The Artists Open Houses (AOH) festival will be a little different this year. Due to the new national lockdown, in November we will be an online-only festival, with virtual tours of Open Houses available to view on our website. For the first two weeks of December we hope to return to normality, when you will be able to visit Open Houses and meet the artists in person. The online festival runs 21st November – 31st December.
View the open houses
This year has been like no other and we are all in need some festive cheer; alongside an array of inspirational art, the AOH Festival will deliver the best aspects of both the May and Christmas Festivals offering great art as well as unique, handmade Christmas gifts.
Online ‘Virtual Open Houses’ will include online video tours round artists’ houses, as well individual online galleries. By browsing the artists’ listings you can hear about their work, the processes of making and the ideas behind it, and you can buy the work directly from the artists and makers. From December 5th- 13th we are hopeful that the regular AOH Festival, where artists welcome visitors into their homes and studios, will return.
*Please check our website for regular updates and specific opening days.
This year AOH is delighted to have internationally regarded artist, David Shrigley’s support for our young artists, mentoring sculpture students from the University of Brighton (supported by a student bursary from the Hanningtons Lane development company) and giving online workshops and tutorials to recent graduates exhibiting in the New Grounds exhibition.
The Artists Open Houses festival is a community event, encouraging participation from artists at all stages of their careers, from school and college students, through young emergent artists, to established and professional artists and makers. Many charities supporting artists with mental health issues, learning disabilities and older artists in residential care, are also taking part virtually or in person, reflecting their experiences of the last few months through their art.
More than ever this year it is important to support our local artists and makers who help to make Brighton and Hove the vibrant city that it is. Many AOH artists have made good use of the isolation of recent months, finding space to explore new ideas and ways of working. This festival offers a wonderful opportunity to discover online (and, we hope, in person) really exciting, inspiring and distinctive new work, alongside a host of Christmas gifts.
Many Open Houses are providing booking systems so that you can plan your visits in secure environments. All will supply facemasks and hand sanitiser and will follow current government Covid-19 guidelines, including managed social distancing.
AOH would like to thank Arts Council England and Brighton and Hove City Council for their valuable support over the last few months.
