CREATIVES across the region are busily preparing for the return of Bendigo Open Studios on the Labour Day long weekend.<\/p>\n
The 12 to 14 March event follows the program\u2019s inaugural season last year, which committee member Ian Dodd said was well received by artists and attendees alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artists that were involved last year were all very excited about the event because it had never been done before in Bendigo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were very pleased with the results, to the point where we have just about doubled our numbers this year. We\u2019ve got pretty close to 40 artists this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Dodd, who also operates Studio Meraki, launched the program after he moved to the region two years ago and wanted to meet new creatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t do anything because of COVID so I got online and found a group called Bendarts. I posted \u2018has Bendigo ever had an open studio?\u2019 and that\u2019s how it started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt went crazy, I had 40 odd responses within a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the pandemic creating significant challenges for the arts community, Mr Dodd said he was keen to again show off different and thriving creativity in the region during the upcoming event.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been very difficult because you haven\u2019t been able to have people come to your studio and look at art or have art exhibitions because of COVID,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artists themselves are very keen for it because we work in our own studios doing our own thing and then we try and sell our pieces somewhere, but this gives an opportunity for people to come and see what we actually do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good for people to see those processes and how it all happens.\u201d<\/p>\n