Developing Open Studios Notts
First Steps 2009
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Open Studios Network Conference in Coventry
Research Open Studios nationally
Research Tender April 2010
“We are looking at the feasibility of investing in the
infrastructure to enable a Countywide Open Studio
initiative to develop”
Aims:
 Increase visibility of creative practitioners.
 Create opportunities for sales and thus support
the economic viability of businesses.
 Create opportunity for creatives to meet their
customers.
 Develop a wider arts offer to visitors.
 Develop an accessible event for new audiences.
Specifically by:
 Offering opportunities for creatives to work
together and learn from each other.
 Offering specific training to creatives to make
the event a success.
 Achieving financial efficiencies by presenting a
cohesive countywide event.
 Creating a visible branded event in a focussed
time slot.
 Developing & supporting a cohesive and county
wide initiative.
 Developing a sustainable model which can
continue after initial investment.
 Investing in admin systems / marketing / skills
development for year one.
What we need
 Contact any existing groups and gauge interest.
 Identify any specific preferred ‘prime time’ dates.
 Specifically identify key individuals who might
wish to drive the development.
Feasibility study stage Service Level Agreement (SLA)
£1330
Final Research Report July 2010
£1000 addendum to SLA for contractor to talk again to
four active groups and start ‘forum’ group
First ‘Forum’ Meeting October 2010
Political & economic climate meant £8k initially allocated
to the project by NCC was frozen.
Future of Arts Service, let alone funding, was uncertain
as all on 188 notices of risk of redundancy.
However support & free meeting venue was offered and
group willing to work together.
Further Meetings 2011
May – one group drops out, wants to be independent
July – plans for 2012 event emerge; call out for
expressions of interest circulated including to
www.creativegreenhouse.org.uk
September - £5k Budget from NCC confirmed. Newark
& Area Open Studios Commissioned to lead on the
development of Open Studios.
SLA Extract
 Developing & supporting a cohesive and county
wide initiative.
 Developing a sustainable model which can
continue after initial investment.
 Investing in admin systems / marketing / skills
development for year one.
Open Studios Nottinghamshire will work to develop ways
to communicate the following core information:
 A cohesive May/June Open Studios
Nottinghamshire 2012
 The existing organisations, events they are
holding and when
 The geographical picture of where they are
located in the county
 Explanation of what the organisations do and
what the events involve
 Listing of member organisations with web links
 signposting artists who may be looking to join
organisations
 signposting visitors to events
 Expansion of audiences attending these events
December – biggest meeting to date. Additional
interested parties. Patchings Art Centre, Broxtowe
Group newly emerging.
Meetings 2012
February final print agreed, April distribution
July analysis and evaluation, September How to do it
all again in 2013? October Call out for 2013
“We welcome enthusiastic and proactive creative
practitioners from across Nottinghamshire to help
create a bigger and better OSNotts next year….. We
particularly want to encourage the formation of
additional localised 'hubs' or groups of artists in
‘trails’, a formula which is proven as successful
countrywide ….. we need artists with the drive to
work together to organise themselves, attract the
public in to see them and seek partnerships with
other local businesses”
www.openstudiosnotts.co.uk
Diana Pasek-Atkinson
Strategic Arts Development Officer
Creative Industries
Email: diana.pasek-atkinson@nottscc.gov.uk
Website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk