‘Open For Art’ is the new signature open studio Art event for South Dorset in May 2017. Featuring more than 80 artists in over 40 venues across the area, the event has been organised voluntarily by members of the not for profit arts organisation Artwey and has been financially supported by Weymouth BID.
It is an exciting new venture showcasing the wealth of artistic talent found in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland. It will provide visitors with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of works and engage with their creators, from professionals and established artists through to newcomers and prize winners from our children’s competition.
Over 80 artists will be exhibiting in more than 40 venues encompassing not only permanent studios and gallery spaces but special events in offices, cafes and historic buildings. A number of artists have also opened up their homes, many of whom can be contacted all year round for personal viewings, so keep this guide for further reference.
Artwey are a Community Interest Company (CIC) formed in 2008 to raise the profile of the diversity and range of visual arts produced in Weymouth and Portland and run entirely by volunteers on a non-profit basis. They have 60 members who work in a variety of media, have the opportunity of promoting their work through the Artwey website, exhibitions, workshops, DAW and Open Studios, in addition to enjoying social activities.
After several years of successful Artwey events, the time seemed right to expand their biennial Open Studios by taking in Dorchester and Poundbury and open the event to non-members. Carol Cruickshank and Olivia Nurrish, Artwey’s two directors, have taken up the challenge and with their team have trebled the size of the trail which has been rebranded OPEN FOR ART 2017.
Carol Cruickshank Artwey Chairman said “Artwey have been delighted to receive support from the Weymouth BID team in terms of funding, marketing expertise and networking which has helped our event OPEN FOR ART to expand threefold whilst still making it accessible and affordable to artists, business advertisers and sponsors. We hope this is the beginning of a great working relationship with Weymouth BID that will result in growing OPEN FOR ART into an established, respected and successful biannual event raising the cultural profile in our area and encouraging visitors to enjoy all that our towns have to offer. We would like to thank Weymouth BID for providing both funding and marketing support to enable the Open for Art event to reach a wider audience, also thanks to Domvs who have also helped us with signage.”
Nigel Reed, Manager of Weymouth Bid said “We are pleased to be supporting this promotion of local Artists through the Open for Art Event. We have helped ArtWey with their own marketing and through the We are Weymouth website and social media platforms we can reach a wider audience. The WeAreWeymouth Facebook page reach regularly exceeds 50,000 each week, with 16,000 people following the Facebook page. On average the WeAreWeymouth website attracts 20,000 visits every month.”
Artwey will be launching the exhibition with a reception on 19thMay 2017, where the Mayors of Weymouth & Portland, Dorchester and Mayoress of Portland will be present.
Find out more about Artwey Open for Art and other events at www.weareweymouth.co.uk/event/open-for-art
Business info at Weymouth BID www.weymouthbid.co.uk
Or email[email protected] . Telephone 01305 779410
Download a brochure at https://www.artwey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/OPA-final-LR.pdf
