Jersey Arts Trust presents Skipton Open Studios 2016

Monday 04 January 2016

After a year’s break, Skipton Open Studios makes its long awaited return with partner sponsor Skipton International.

Now in its eighth year, the island-wide event will launch on Friday 17th June with a taster exhibition at CCA Galleries International and new for 2016, community art events, workshops and film at Havre des Pas Lido.

In true Skipton Open Studios fashion, participating artists will once again be opening the doors of their studios to the public during the last weekend of June and the first weekend of July. The open weekends provide a chance for the public to meet local artists and gain an insight into how and where the work is produced, together with the inspirations and techniques involved.

The Jersey Arts Trust is inviting Jersey artists to take part in the Skipton Open Studios 2016. Application forms can be downloaded from the Jersey Arts Trust website from 4^th January 2016, where they can find more information about the event. Artists do not necessarily need their own studios to take part. Thanks to the partnerships developed with Jersey Heritage and the National Trust for Jersey, artists without their own space are given the opportunity to transform properties owned by both into pop-up studios.

2015 saw Jersey Arts Trust take a break from the Skipton Open Studios to pursue the Skipton Arts Series - the umbrella term that encompasses the Open Studios as well as other community arts events throughout the coming year. Last year’s programme included the Les P’tits Faîtchieaux project, where thousands of small clay figures were made by schools, community groups and the general public, which were then distributed to countries all around the world. The Art Series for 2015 finished with the incredibly popular Jersey Projection Gallery, which saw some of Jersey’s most important work be shown together, for the first time, on the façade of Normans Commercial Buildings.

Visual Arts Co-ordinator, Sasha Gibb, said: “Skipton Open Studios was where the Art Series all began.

"The Open Studios have proven successful on community, artistic and economic levels; In 2014, over £48,000 of Jersey visual art was sold in two weeks. The event brings artists and public together and, in the vein of all Skipton Art Series projects, makes it fun and accessible. After the artistic evolution of last year’s Skipton Art Series, expect the standard at this year’s Skipton Open Studios to be higher and more diverse than ever.”

Jim Coupe, MD of Skipton International, said: “As long-term partner to the Jersey Arts Trust for the Skipton Open Studios we have been delighted to support some truly community-centric art events and as the Skipton Art Series evolves and achieves more success we are very proud to continue to be involved.

"It’s great to see the Open Studios back for 2016 and we are very much looking forward to the utilisation of new locations including the Havre des Pas Lido which promises to bring back a sense of seaside nostalgia with family-friendly art-lead events and film.”

The deadline for artist application submissions is Wednesday 3^rd February 2016. The application form and exhibitor requirements can be downloaded from www.arts.je or can be collected from the JAT office in Charles Street.