An open studio festival showcasing over 100 artists and makers in and around Sheffield.

Sharing skills and knowledge, Open Up gives visitors the opportunity to meet creatives and inventive people at the places where they work across the city and beyond.

Open Up is a social event, popular with groups and families, and makes for a great
day out exploring the culture of the city through the medium of arts and crafts.

More than just an exhibition, Open Up is an opportunity for anyone interested in the arts, crafts and creativity to meet local artists in their studios and find out more about how they make their work and what makes them tick.

Organised by the artists and makers themselves this well-established event is now in its 26th year and showcases a wide range of art forms in loads of interesting locations. With many studios gathered in natural clusters across Sheffield and beyond, and with free entry, they’re ideally located for a tour.

The Open Up website lists the studios and what you can expect to see, and a free event guide published by the organisers is available from the participating artists or from the public places also listed on the site.

Join Open Up!

The call for artists to join Open Up 2024 launches 1st October 2023 and runs until 31st January. The Early Bird offer of £80 runs until 31st October. 

Open Up Sheffield 2024 event

Held over two bank holiday weekends (4 May-6 May and 11-12 May), the 2024 version of Open Up promises to be a really special one...

Open Up 2024

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A focus on neighbourhoods

There are clusters of studios within easy reach of each other around the city - for example
Hillsborough, Walkley, Crookes and Nether Edge, Sharrow, Meerrsbrook and in studio groups such as at KIAC in Kelham Island.

Explore by neighbourhood

A city of makers

Painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printing and paper working, textiles, photography,
glass, woodworking, jewellery and metalworking – just to name but a few! In a world dominated by digital consumption, the opportunity to interact with real works of art and learn from the creatives behind them becomes ever more valuable.

Discover the art forms

FREE entry!

Many artists and makers have spent a lifetime working at their craft; they do Open Up
because they want to meet people and share their passion and knowledge. Entry to the studios is free of charge and there may be opportunity to purchase original art from the maker.

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Sharing skills and knowledge

Seeing and talking about the work on display, visiting an open studio is a great way to get creative inspiration. Sharing skills and knowledge is at the heart of Open Up’s ethos, and there are demonstrations that take place as well as the opportunity to ask experienced artists and makers for advice on how to get involved yourself – whether that’s pointers on the best
crafts and supplies or learning about useful techniques and materials.

Studios, tools and machines

Many of the studios are kitted out with the makers tools and either based in old buildings steeped in history, inspirational creative hubs of art or even the artists’ own homes and gardens! It’s all about experiencing art and the making process at its source, engaging with passionate creatives and, most importantly, having plenty of fun while you’re doing it!

Kate Jacob, abstract artist and co-founder of Open Up in 1998

"I love going to open studios. You can visit an artist in their studios, gardens or home, in their own setting; sometimes having a cup of tea and always chatting to people, it’s such a nice way for artists and audience to meet and people are fascinated by how and where artists work."

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