Artists to open up their studios

The Northants Open Studios Trails will be launched between 11am and 4pm on Saturday at the Alfred East Art Gallery and Manor House Gardens.

The scheme enables members of the public to see some of Northamptonshire’s finest artworks as artists invite you into their studios to witness first-hand the inspiration and motivation that drives them to create.

Northants Open Studio Trails runs throughout September with a central exhibition featuring a piece of artwork from each participating artist.

This will be running from Saturday August 29 to Saturday September 26 at the Alfred East Art Gallery.

Visitors can tour the county visiting studios and exhibitions hosted by artists. Step inside a pottery studio, discuss carving with a stonemason or watch demonstrations of painting, printmaking and traditional crafts.

The launch will see a pop up exhibition, live demonstrations, free drop in workshops and entertainment for all ages, throughout the day.

At the launch event, visitors can enjoy artists’ demos in the gardens, as well as some free children’s workshops including pottery, mural sticker art and Little Draw, a community drawing project sponsored by Northampton Community Fund; participating children take home a goody bag!

Adult visitors can take part in The Big Paint, a collaborative community art project. With materials being sponsored by ColArt, 100 members of the public can show off their talents by painting a section of what will become a much larger painting, which will be hung for the month of NOST in the Gallery.

Guy Holloway, head of corporate and cultural services at Kettering Borough Council who run the gallery, said: “The scheme provides a delightful opportunity for us to look forward to welcoming visitors and showcasing the impressive variety of art across the county.”

Cllr Lesley Thurland, Kettering Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community and culture, said: “It’s a huge honour for the Alfred East Art Gallery to host the central exhibition for Northants Open Studio Trails and I’m excited for it to begin.

“The big launch looks set to be a wonderful event for the whole family so people should make sure you’re there to witness the creative talent across the county.”

People visiting the exhibition are being asked to nominate their favourite piece of artwork. The prize winner can pick up a £75 framing voucher courtesy of On the Edge Framing.

Find out more about the scheme and download the full brochure of all of the events around the county at www.kettering.gov.uk/NOST.