Devon Open Studios 2025

06 – 21 September

Registration for Devon Open Studios will open in February 2025.

You need to be a member of Devon Artist Network to take part. You can apply for membership here and get loads of additional benefits.

As the largest event of its kind across the region, Devon Open Studios runs for 16 days each September, and invites people to look behind the scenes of an artist’s studio.

The county’s creative people demonstrate and showcase their work in attics, sheds, galleries and other creative spaces. The art and craft on display includes drawing, painting, sculpture, tapestry, ceramics, jewellery and glasswork. 

Open Studios are all free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to support local artists and makers by buying their work – anything from a large sculpture to a small greetings card.

Artists range from new talent to experienced professionals, all keen to share their inspiration and creativity with visitors. Many of the artists have taken their inspiration from the natural world – flora and fauna, coast and countryside.

If you are interested in taking part and would like further information, please contact: [email protected]

You can still see a list of the 2024 artists below, with many artists holding workshops and events throughout the year.

Are you an artist interested in participating in Devon’s largest Open Studios event?
Please read our FAQs to learn how you can get involved.

1. How much does it cost to participate?

Single Artist: £170 for a solo artist. This includes a standard listing in the printed guide with a single image. You can upgrade to larger image area in the guide for £340.  

Two Artists: £270 for a two artists at one venue. This includes a standard page listing in the printed guide. Please supply one image, or one composite image, and a single set of venue information. You can upgrade to larger image area in the guide for £340 for two Artists at One Venue. Please supply one image, or one composite image, and a single set of venue information

Small Group of Artists (3-5): £360 for a small group of artists (3-5), which inlcudes a larger listing in the printed guide with one set of venue details. Please supply one composite image containing examples of work by all artists in the group.

Medium group of Artists (6-10): £550 for a medium group of artists (6-10), which includes a larger listing in the printed guide with a larger image area. Please supply one image, or one composite image, and a single set of venue information.

Large group of Artists (11+): £635 for a large group of artists, which includes a larger listing in the printed guide with a larger image area. Please supply one image, or one composite image, and a single set of venue information.

2. Key Dates for Participation in Devon Open Studios 

Even though we have several months to plan, it is always surprising how soon the Devon Open Studios event comes round each year! 

Below are some key dates you might want to bear in mind when considering whether to take part. We will of course firm up deadlines and notify you of these in good time as the project progresses. However, the following will give a good indication of what happens when, and particularly when you will need to be available to provide information, approve your guide entry and begin to promote the event locally to you. 

• Monday 03 February Registration for artists and groups opens

• Monday 03 February Emerging Artist Bursary programme announced. Each year up to 5 artists will be chosen to receive Bursaries to support their participation in the event. The scheme is open to those taking their first steps in professional practice, returning after a career break, or taking their art in a new direction. 

• Sunday 30 March Registration closes. Registration forms must be fully complete and received with payment made by this date. We are likely to be oversubscribed again this year so apply as soon as possible to secure your place. 

• End of March / Early April You will receive confirmation of registration and contact details of other participants local to you. You will have a chance to change your image and essential information, if required. 

• Beginning May Around this time, our Media Officer will send out the first call to participants for interesting press stories. 

• Bursary winners will be announced. 

• Mid-May You will receive a proof of your entry in the event guide. It is essential that you check it, approve it or make any amendments needed by the deadline given. Each artist or group must sign off a final proof before the guide goes to print in June. You’ll also need to check your entry on the website. 

• End July You will be required to pick up your allocation of event guides from a regional centre in your Local Authority area for distribution to your local networks. This begins the main promotional period with participants expected to promote the event widely in their local area. 

• Saturday 06 September DOS 2025 opens. You can open for as many or as few days as you wish during this period but it’s wise to open for as long as you can to allow an audience to build. 

• Sunday 21 September DOS 2025 closes. You will be asked to complete a feedback form on how your event went and results will be circulated at the DAN AGM in October.

3. Ready to Join the Community – Artist Groups

Participating in Open Studios as part of a group isn’t just about increasing visibility—it’s about becoming part of a larger community, collaborating with fellow artists, and accessing opportunities that extend well beyond the event itself. Whether you’re looking to expand your audience, save on costs, or network with industry professionals, joining a group can enhance your Devon Open Studios experience in ways you might not have expected.

You can participate in Devon Open Studios as a group, with the following conditions:

• Membership Requirement: All participants must be individual members of Devon Artist Network (DAN).

• Group Admin Lead: Groups must nominate one person to act as the Group Admin Lead. This person will provide their contact details during registration and will serve as the main point of contact for all event-related correspondence.

• Responsibilities of the Group Admin Lead: The Group Admin Lead will be responsible for circulating information among group members as needed and will act as the primary liaison for any decisions, approvals, and sign-offs related to the event.

4. What does my fee cover? 

Devon Open Studios is non-profit-making and entirely funded by the artists taking part. Your fee supports: 

1. Your studio’s inclusion into the South West’s largest and best attended open studios event.
2. Commission-free sales for participants.  
3. Your specially-designed entry featuring your image and text in our printed event guides with a circulation of 32,000+ across the region.
4. A DOS web listing for your venue, including up to 12+ images, interactive map, and links to you website and social media.
5. A page proof sent to all participants for you to check the accuracy of your entry.
6. An initial allocation of 100 copies of the event guide for your own use/distribution, more are available if required.
7. Printed directional arrows for your use.
8. Electronic posters, flyers, etc, sent to you for you to adapt and print for your own use.
9. Help with contacting the local media – generic press releases for you to adapt and a press contact for additional assistance.
10. National/regional press contact handled by Devon Open Studios Media Officer.
11. The Event Co-ordinator, Guide Designer, Web Designer, Media Officer and other specialist skills that may be bought in as required, such as social media, photography or film-making. 
12. Opportunities to network and cross-promote your activities 
13. Regular advice and updates throughout the year, and guidance to help with planning your open studio.
14. Event guides distributed by Devon Open Studios centrally to all libraries in Devon and all Tourist Info Centres in Devon. 
15. A series of online training workshops to help you raise your profile and publicise your event.

Payment is made online via Paypal. You do not need a paypal account to make payment via Paypal. Click “checkout as a guest” to make payment without a Paypal account.) 

The deadline for Registration is Sunday 30 March.

5. What is Expected of Participants?

1. That you supply accurate text and your image(s) in sufficient print quality by the required deadline. 
2. You check your page proof carefully to ensure the guide is accurate by the required deadline. Devon Artist Network are NOT responsible for checking or editing you proof. As a participating artist YOU are responsible for making any amendments and changes to your listing through your DOS member page.
3. You adhere to any deadlines given for return of information for the brochure and notify the coordinator if you plan to be away from your admin address at any key times of the process. 
4. You collect your guides and arrows from a distribution centre in your district and distribute guides locally (arts centres, pubs, shops, etc). 
5. That you work with all participating artists and with Devon Artist Network to publicise the event as widely as possible using the branded promotional tools e.g posters and guides supplied. 
6. You put up arrows to direct visitors clearly to your venue in accordance with Devon County Council guidelines. This includes sturdily mounting and laminating them if possible. 
7. You will open on all the dates/times you specify in our event guide and display work consistent with your description. In a genuine emergency that forces closure, you will contact the office at the earliest opportunity for advice on how to manage this. 
8. You promote your open studio locally and to local press, and if supplying press stories to our Media Officer you do so in sufficient time to allow us to gain national/regional press interest. 
9. You follow our guidelines and ensure your studio meets with health and safety requirements and is adequately insured. 
10. 10.You will complete the feedback form after the event. 

6. Registration

Registration opens on 03 February 2025 and can be accessed via the Devon Artist Network website. To register we require: 

• Artist or Group Name
• Email address – the email you wish to use for admin (you can add a different email to use in the printed guide). This is the email we will use for all correspondence about the event.
• Venue Address – for publication in the guide. 
• A high quality image for publication in the Guide. There will be an opportunity to amend the image at a later stage, and you will be able to to upload up to 12 images to the website at a later stage. If you are a group, it is a good idea to make the first image a composite of all the group members’ work. 
• A Debit or Credit Card to make payment. Payment is made via Paypal. You do not need a paypal account to make payment via Paypal. Click “checkout as a guest” to make payment without a Paypal account). The deadline for Registration is Sunday 30 March.