Doors to swing open on artists’ studios

ARTISTS all over town are set to offer a peek behind their creative curtains as Bendigo Open Studios program returns for 2023. 

Bendigo Open Studios committee member Frankie O’Toole said this year 33 artists are participating and opening their art-making spaces to members of the public for three days next month. 

“An open studio is an opportunity for artists to open their doors to their studio so people can come in and see where they work, where they practice, how they create, talk to the artists themselves,” said O’Toole.  

“We found that a lot of artists do have studio spaces, but they’re not readily accessible for the public, like even myself, I work from the spare bedroom of my home. 

“I couldn’t invite people from the public to come visit that, so I actually rent a space in town now, so I invite people there. 

“What we’re really hoping is that people can actually go to a genuine working artist’s studio.” 

Unlike previous years, in 2023 Bendigo Open Studios has been moved from autumn to spring following clashes with other similarly focused events in the region. 

The Bendigo artists come from a variety of backgrounds and will include the winner of the 2021 Bluethumb Art Prize Photography Award, Lauren Starr. 

“We have everything from sculptors, jewellery makers, drawers, painters, photographers, street artists, mixed media,” O’Toole said. 

O’Toole also said some of the artists will also run workshops or other activities, and there will be a map of the various open spaces on the organisation’s website, along with details of the creatives. 

“Bendigo really doesn’t enough platforms to showcase just how good our artists are, and this is something that we’re keen to just keep doing,” she said. 

Bendigo Open Studios will run from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October, although not all studios will be open all three days. 

More information can be found at bendigoopenstudios.org.