Your chosen image is a crucial part of your North East Open Studios listing, appearing both in the printed book and on our website and social media. To ensure consistency, clarity, and professionalism across all North East Open Studios materials, we have clear guidelines for image selection:
North East Open Studios is an open studio event, not an art and craft fair, and it is essential that all imagery reflects this. Your image should showcase your work as artists and makers, rather than give the impression of a market-style event. Images featuring multiple artists’ work in a ‘stall-like’ presentation or craft fair setting are not suitable and will not be accepted.
Go to promo.com/tools/image-resizer/
Note: It’s important that your image file name is the same as your venue display name, your-name.jpg.
If you prefer a more visual and narrated guide, you can watch our video guide to image resizing.
Your artist’s statement is a crucial part of your North East Open Studios listing. It should be concise, engaging, and informative, giving visitors insight into what inspires you and the medium you work in. The goal is to encourage visitors to come and see your work in person and learn more about your creative process.
Your Listing Title or Name will be your actual name, practice name, or business name. Disciplines, qualifications, or job roles will not be included in this section and should instead be incorporated into your Artist Statement and Bio. Any additional titles or roles will be removed from the listing.
The categories we use for disciplines describe the media you use in your art, design, or craft practice. They do not define the themes, narratives, or outputs of your work.
As artists, makers, and designers, our work spans a vast range—from socially engaged arts to political narratives, from religious reliquaries to functional objects, and from conceptual pieces to those that are simply aesthetically pleasing.
Your artist statement is where you can define what your practice is about, what inspires you, and who your intended audience is. The categories in the North East Open Studios catalogue cannot accommodate every possible artistic variety—this is not their purpose. Instead, use the statement section to articulate your creative identity in your own words.
When crafting your statement, keep in mind:
Example Statements
Avoid overly vague or generic statements—be specific about what makes your work unique.
By following these guidelines, your North East Open Studios listing will be clear, professional, and effective in attracting visitors who are genuinely interested in your work.
what3words is a simple and precise way to identify the exact location of your North East Open Studios venue. It provides a unique three-word address for every 3m x 3m square on the planet, making it particularly useful when postcodes are unreliable or when an address does not accurately transfer to digital maps.
For North East Open Studios maps, we will be using your what3words location to ensure visitors can easily find your studio or venue. Providing this information correctly will save time and resources during the mapping process.
How to Find Your what3words Location
Providing the most accurate location possible will improve the experience for visitors and make North East Open Studios maps as clear and effective as possible.
Social media is one of the most powerful tools for artists and makers to connect with audiences, showcase their work, and drive visitors to their studios. In 2025, we are shifting the focus of North East Open Studios social media to video-first content, especially Reels, Stories, and TikTok videos, rather than relying heavily on static posts. This reflects current social media trends and will help us engage a wider audience.
We encourage all NEOS members to embrace video content where possible—whether that’s showing your creative process, giving a behind-the-scenes look at your studio, or talking about your inspirations. More guidance on this will be shared soon!
Make sure you’re following North East Open Studios on all platforms:
Tag us in your posts and videos so we can see and share your content! Use:
If you don’t already have a Facebook Page, consider creating one for your art business so people can follow your work more easily. This is separate from a personal profile and makes it easier for new audiences to find you.
On Instagram and TikTok, Reels and short-form videos are the best way to get engagement. You don’t need fancy equipment—your phone and good lighting are enough! Try simple formats like:
Hashtags are a good way of being found on Instagram. If you use #NorthEastOpenStudios or #NorthEastOpenStudios2025 then again we can search for your posts.
If you have a website, make sure it’s up to date and that your links work. A website is an excellent way to:
If your website is listed in your North East Open Studios entry, please double-check that it’s live and working. We’d also love for you to link back to the North East Open Studios website from your own site to strengthen our collective reach.
We’ll be sharing more about how you can make the most of social media as a North East Open Studios member this year, including guidance on video creation and engagement tips. Stay tuned!
Follow, tag, and engage with us! Let’s make North East Open Studios 2025 the most exciting, visible, and engaging year yet.
Maximise your visibility and attract more visitors by making the most of the North East Open Studios promotional materials. A well-planned publicity strategy will help drive interest in your studio and increase visitor engagement.
Place them where visitors are likely to find them – distribute your books to locations that attract art lovers and tourists, such as:
Work with other participants in your area – coordinate with nearby artists and makers to ensure wide coverage and avoid duplication.
Save some books for the event period – nearer to the event, place books in bed and breakfasts, hotels, self-catering accommodations, and guesthouses to capture visitors staying in the area.
Flyers & Business Cards – Print off flyers or insert your business card into your page in the book to help visitors remember you.
Posters – Create and distribute posters to local shops, notice boards, pubs, hotels, and clubs just before the event. A poster template and the North East Open Studios logo in various formats are available to download here:
Host an Exclusive Preview – Consider an invitation-only preview event or a special opening day welcome to make visitors feel valued and excited to attend.
Use Bunting & Signage – Eye-catching decorations help attract attention and differentiate your open studio from a regular workspace, making it clear that you are open for visitors.
Leverage Social Media – Engage with potential visitors by sharing behind-the-scenes content, event updates, and personal invitations across social platforms:
Post Regularly – Share images and videos of your work in progress, your studio setup, and any special preparations to build anticipation.
Tag North East Open Studios and use the event hashtags #NorthEastOpenStudios and #NorthEastOpenStudios2025 to ensure your posts are seen and shared by the community.
Utilise Email Marketing – If you have a mailing list, send out a personalised invitation to your subscribers encouraging them to visit your studio.
