in Dorset next summer, offering artists an alternative to the long-established Dorset Art Weeks – with its organisers placing affordability, transparency and artists’ views at the centre of their plans.
Dorset Artist Open Studios (DAOS) will run from 28th August to 5th September 2027, bringing together artists and makers across the county in individual studios, home workshops, shared spaces and group venues.
The new event is being organised by a volunteer team on a not-for-profit basis, with organisers saying all income from participation will be reinvested in delivering and promoting the event.
Its launch comes as Dorset Art Weeks, run by registered charity Dorset Visual Arts, prepares for its own 2027 event from 15th to 31st May. Once held every two years, Dorset Art Weeks is now an annual event, with registrations for next year currently open.
Organisers place considerable emphasis on how the new event has been developed:
‘This isn’t an event that has been designed first and then asked artists to fit into it,’ said a DAOS spokesperson. ‘We started by listening to artists. They told us what they needed – affordability, exposure, good promotion and flexibility – and those principles are at the heart of DAOS.’
Organisers say artists will be able to take part individually or collaborate with others to create group venues, while visitors will be able to build their own trail through Dorset’s creative community.
Painting, ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, woodworking and sculpture are among the disciplines expected to feature, with artists encouraged to demonstrate their processes and sell work directly from their studios.
The emphasis on affordability comes at a time when artists now have two county-wide schemes competing for their attention. Dorset Art Weeks’ 2027 registration starts at £200 for an individual artist, with fees increasing for larger shared venues and groups. Its package includes inclusion in 35,000 printed guides, an online listing, promotional material and road signs.
DAOS packages start at £150, although the two schemes offer different arrangements, making direct price comparisons difficult.
DAOS organisers say they intend the volunteer-led event to become an annual fixture in Dorset’s arts calendar.
The arrival of a second scheme gives Dorset artists a choice not only of dates, but of format and organisation – and means visitors could now have two opportunities each year to explore studios normally closed to the public.
Registration for Dorset Artist Open Studios remains open until 30th November, with visitor information available from February 2027.
dorsetartistopenstudios.co.uk
