From 2023, there are a few different ways to join Birmingham Open Studios.
To avoid confusion on your application, we have outlined the different memberships and their costs.
ARTIST:
An artist is a single person or creative that joins under their own unique listing. They should exhibit from their own address/studio, or if this isn’t possible, from a different venue. It is up to artists to find their own venue to exhibit from if they cannot exhibit from their home.
They benefit from having a completely individual listing both online and in the guide book. This is great for their artist profile.
There can be multiple individual artists exhibiting from any one venue. We encourage every artist to join as an individual wherever possible. £50 to join.
STUDIO:
A studio is essentially a single working space, with its own membership. For example, a pottery studio or a darkroom. They join Birmingham Open Studios to promote their space and to gain more membership throughout the year. A good example of a studio is Sundragon Pottery.
Many people may use the studio, but they will not be named in the guidebook or online. The reason for a studio to join is to gain more members and promote what they do. They are not joining to make individual artist sales. £50 to join.
COLLECTIVES/GROUPS:
A group or ‘collective’ of artists are essentially more than one artist, who often create and exhibit their work under a collective umbrella name. The group’s members may not necessarily always create their work exclusively together, or always exhibit their work together at other events. For example a ‘Birmingham Painters Group’ or ‘Urban Sketchers’ group. .
Group membership allows groups to showcase their brand and collective purpose. Each member artist can sell work during the event as part of the group. But no single member will have their own individual listing in the guidebook or online. It’s all about promoting the ‘group brand’.
Groups who join will be listed separately in the guidebook to individuals, and the group must submit a landscape-orientation A5 advert for the guidebook. Their advert can include the group’s branding, logo and list their artists names. They will also have a separate ‘group icon’ on our online map.
This can work well for groups whose members are maybe ‘hobbyists’ and may not feel comfortable – or ready – to exhibit by themselves.
Groups and collectives should be established. Groups cannot create an ‘open call’ to gain more membership specifically for Birmingham Open Studios, as this could dissuade artists from joining Birmingham Open Studios as individuals. £130 to join as a group. Advert required.
GALLERIES AND VENUES:
Galleries and venues can join in 2 ways. If you want your gallery/venue be on the trail, your venue must host at least one artist, as Birmingham Open Studios is all about artist interaction.
We recommend that galleries contact some artists they represent, asking these artists to sign up to Birmingham Open Studios as individuals, and using your gallery as their exhibiting address. This also allows your artists from outside Birmingham to take part, using your gallery for the event. This agreement allows the gallery to benefit from extra footfall/sales on the Birmingham Open Studios trail.
Galleries may agree a special rate of commission with their artists especially for the event, should they wish.
For example, Lux Gallery in Edgbaston hosted 4 of their own artists for the past 2 Birmingham Open Studios events. Two of these artists did not even live in Birmingham, but were able to participate as Lux Gallery is included in the catchment area. The gallery did not have a listing themselves, but benefited from the footfall attributed by each of the artists being included.
If you want to increase the branding of your own gallery in the guidebook, galleries and venues are able to purchase an advert.
ADVERTISING:
Any business, gallery or venue can buy an advert in the Birmingham Open Studios guidebook. This must be created by the business themselves, and be submitted and paid for by 30th June 2024. The 2024 guidebook will be printed in a run of 10,000 copies, and distributed across the city. Adverts are not listed online.
Costs for an advert are as follows:
1/4 page advert (portrait orientation) £75
1/2 page advert (landscape orientation) £150
Full page advert (portrait orientation) £250
Please email us for your advertising slot.
SPONSORSHIP:
Want to make a big difference to Birmingham Open Studios, and help push our project and your business?
Businesses can sponsor the entire event, and have their logo proudly included on the back cover of our guidebook, website and all promotion material. We will also run a social media advert campaign for your business on 3 platforms (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) leading up to the event. The price also includes a full page advert and blog post about your support.
Sponsorship for a year is £500