What kind of art can I exhibit?

All types of physical/tangible art are welcome (painting/sculpture/photography etc). We do not accept performance art

Does the event cover the whole of Birmingham?

Birmingham Open Studios currently covers the following areas: Moseley, Kings Heath, Balsall Heath, Hall Green, Selly Park, Stirchley, Cotteridge, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield, Selly Oak, Bournbrook, Harborne, Bearwood, Quinton, Edgbaston, Shirley, the City Centre, Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth, Handsworth and Erdington.

The catchment area grows larger each year. The reason for this is to make sure participating artists aren’t let down by exhibiting miles away on the map from other artists. This would leave them at risk of not having many visitors.

This approach of growing gradually has worked well for us. We have more artists & crafters participating each year, covering a larger area, with more visitors and more sales each year.

We gradually grow the catchment area each year, making sure all artists have a positive experience. Our aim is to eventually cover the entire city.

Why are you called Birmingham Open Studios if you don’t cover the entire city? 

We chose the name ‘Birmingham Open Studios’ early on to build a recognised brand, for social media following, and to secure a permanent web address with good SEO. We are always aiming to secure additional funding to help make the event grow bigger each year.
It wouldn’t be good practice to change the name for each event.

I don’t live in the catchment area. Can I still participate?

Yes, but you will have to find a venue to exhibit from within the catchment area. Please consider approaching cafes, shops, pubs, community centres, libraries, arts centres, friends and family members about using their space. Some venues may choose to charge a fee to use their space.

I cannot exhibit from my house/studio

If you live in the area, but cannot use your own location, please consider asking a local business or friend if you can use their space. If you don’t have any contacts who can help, please see the ‘I Need A Space’ page

Can we supply studios?

No, as we do not own any studios ourselves. Our purpose is to promote your existing studios to the public, so they can see what goes on behind closed doors.

I cannot make the dates/times. Can I exhibit another date/time?

No, sorry. The times and dates are set to make visiting easy for the public. However, you don’t have to exhibit each date. You can exhibit between 1 and 4 of the available dates. However, you must be available from 11am-5pm on each day you participate.

Can I exhibit from different locations on different days?

We have found that when artists change addresses during the event it can be confusing for visitors. Also it requires multiple listings both online and in the guidebook. This adds printing/production costs, so we recommend that every artist chooses one venue to participate from per event.

Do I have to be there on the days I participate?

We recommend you are there to interact with the art-loving visitors, as Open Studios is all about interaction, and the public will have travelled to see you. The whole concept allows visitors a face-to-face experience that is beneficial to both parties.

However, if you need to take a break to pick up the kids for example, please make sure someone is there to cover you in your absence.

Do I have to sell my art?

Birmingham Open Studios measures our success to some extent in sales made, but no, you are not obligated to sell. You can show off art that could be part of a charity or recovery project for yourself, or you can donate works if you wish. You can also display works/projects that are purely for entertainment. Or you can exhibit works that you want to keep, to acquire new commissions.

How much does it cost?

The membership fee is £55 per individual artist. This fee is the same regardless of how many individually listed artists are at a single address. The £55 fee is also the same regardless of how many days you participate.

However, if more than one artist works together as a ‘collective’ and wishes to exhibit under a collective name (a ‘Birmingham Painters Group’ for example) then it will be £140 for the group to join.

Find out more about our group/collective memberships here

Do I have to pay commission?

No, Open Studios do not take commission. Every pound you make is yours! However, if you decide to exhibit from a local shop/community centre etc, their rules may dictate that you have to pay them commission.

How much will I sell?

There is no guarantee you will sell anything, but in 2024 the average takings per artist was £155 per day. The largest single sale we’ve had to date was £3000. Some artists sell nothing. Please also note that many visitors contact artists months after the exhibition finishes, to purchase a Christmas gift for example. 

How many visitors will come to my studio?

This can vary hugely. It is dependent on your studio’s location, whether you are sharing your space with another artist, and general weather conditions on the day. Some studios have low footfall of a handful of visitors per day, whilst other studios can get 100+ visitors in one day. The average visitor number is usually around 50 per artist, but this is not guaranteed.

Do I need insurance?

We recommend getting short-term public liability insurance to protect the property, visitors and yourself against any mishap or accident.

Do I have to let everyone in if I don’t feel comfortable doing so?

Absolutely not. If you don’t like the look of someone, or feel threatened, treat your home like you would any other day of the year. This is your house and they have no right to enter. If someone tries to force entry call the police.

How much should I charge for my art?

This is completely up to you, but there are good guidelines online about how to price up your works. These take into account time, materials, promotion, living costs, originality, quality and competition.

Where does my membership money go?

Most of the membership money goes straight into promotion, printing and website costs. Thousands of guidebooks are printed, hundreds of posters + flyers and dozens of banners, plus paid slots for local advertising, boosted social media posts, and renting meeting spaces etc. The coordinators also make a small profit for their time.

When is the deadline to sign up?

The deadline to sign up for Open Studios is June 30th.

What if I have to cancel?

If you cancel before June 30th, you will be issued with a full refund and your name will not be published in the guide/website.

If you cancel after this date you will not receive a refund, as the guide will go to print with your name in it. If this occurs, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make the public aware. We will also ask for you to put a sign on your door to make visitors aware.

If we haven’t answered your question here, please contact us or email us at [email protected]