North East Open Studios 2025 13th – 21st September Sign Up Here

Some of the best creativity in the North East

Member’s Checklist

January

Send us your ‘making’ photos (including your hands) for publicity. 

February

  • Select your image for the North East Open Studios 2025 Book and website. It should be square and clear when printed at 4.5 x 4.5 cm (1080 x 1080 pixels) RGB jpeg or PNG file at resolution 300dpi. It should represent the type of work that visitors will see at your studio this year. Helpful hints can be found in Members Guide 1.
  • Write your artist’s statement (no more than 340 characters long) – see Members Guide 2.
  • Think about your opening times. We encourage all members to take a day or two off to tour other studios – it’s a great way to meet your fellow artists and makers!

If you don’t have a venue or if you can offer someone a venue, please check the list of venues or contact:
[email protected]

March

Sign up online for North East Open Studios 2025 opens from the 1st March. Closing dates for 2025 are the 14th March for out of area applications, 21st March for new groups and 31st March for everyone else. For all types of Membership, Fees must be paid prior to these closing dates.

Please read Members Guide 1 – 3.

April

  • Consider how you will promote your involvement in NEOS – plan ahead. Suggestions can be found in Members Guide 5 & 6.
  • Follow North East Open Studios on social media – ‘love’ and share our posts. Create your own posts and tag NEOS (all year round):
  • Facebook: @NorthEastOpenStudios
  • Instagram: @neopenstudios

May

Proofread your entry in the North East Open Studios Book and North East Open Studios Map. You will receive an email when the drafts are available.

June

  • Proofread your entry in the online map and on the North East Open Studios website – check all links lead to the right place. You will receive an email about this.
  • Plan what you will need to display your work, e.g. frames, display stands etc. Bear in mind that picture-framers and other third-parties may be busy in the run up to North East Open Studios.

July

  • Check that you have adequate insurance in place for North East Open Studios – see FAQ 12.
  • If you are going to get postcards etc printed for publicity, now is the time to think about it. NEOS logos and templates are available here.
  • Create a Trail Map for your local area.

August

  • Pick up NEOS Books from your Pick-Up Point (could be available in July).
  • Distribute your allocation of North East Open Studios Books in your area. For more information on how and where to distribute them, see Members Guide 5.

September

  • Prepare your slips for the Visitors Survey. The survey provides important feedback which we all benefit from.
  • Put up your yellow signs to direct visitors to your studio.
  • Take down your North East Open Studios yellow signs after the event ends.

October

  • Respond to the Members Survey. Your answers will help us to improve North East Open Studios for next year.
  • Send in your Vistors’ Survey email addresses.
  • Attend the AGM and join the discussion on improvements for next year. Consider volunteering to help organise next year’s North East Open Studios!

November

  • Stay in touch with your North East Open Studios colleagues via the internal North East Open Studios Facebook Forum and share any creative festive activities you have planned.
  • Use the Forum as an opportunity to share knowledge or ask questions in the run up to Christmas.

December

Take photo’s of your festive creations and upload them to the North East Open Studios website if you have space in your online gallery. (Your log in details will remain the same until 1 March every year).