September Arts Festival

Studios and pop-up exhibitions will open across both Northamptonshire and Rutland as well as some areas across the borders (Leicestershire).

Northants & Rutland Open Studios is open to all. We pride ourselves in being really inclusive, welcoming any artist, from the hobbyist to the professional, practising in the visual arts.

We encourage and support those who have never exhibited their work before and push and direct the seasoned professional into new directions. Providing links to galleries and giving advice on how and where to present work etc.

NROS is a visual arts group, giving members of the public access to art throughout the county. We are very inclusive and feel that art should be celebrated and enjoyed by everyone, therefore, our annual festival not only gives artists the opportunity to engage directly with art lovers, collectors and enthusiasts of their work, but also allows them to demonstrate their practice, discuss new work and sell or accept commissions. There is no selection process to be part of NROS allowing us to accept artists of varying abilities, ages and disciplines.

NROS provides opportunities throughout the year for artists and makers in Northamptonshire, Rutland and its borders including the organisation of an annual Visual Arts Festival traditionally held in September each year.

Become part of a supportive community that celebrates the achievements of all its members.

The benefits of taking part in the NROS festival:

-> Inclusion in the printed brochure – 20,000 copies circulated
-> Listing on NROS website – 30-40,000 unique visitors
-> Low-cost option to showcase your work
-> Largest annual art event in the region
-> Event marketing carried out centrally by the NROS co-ordinator
-> Support and advice from the lead organiser and the community of artists
-> Creates opportunities for some artists to exhibit in large venues, giving them the confidence to grow and develop their professional practise.
-> Choose your opening dates and times
-> Average artist sales of £1,000+
-> One of the only Open Studios events to hold a central exhibition, giving each member the chance to have work in a quality, reputable venue.
-> Get direct feedback on your work

All packages require an Annual NROS Membership of £25
Click here to read about a NROS Membership

Entry February - 30th April 2025

Brochure Entry £55*
Central Exhibition £45 - currently 2 pieces of work
Brochure and Central Exhibition £95*

*Plus £5 (per artist) promotional fee for each exhibition they are involved in for the brochure. Artists must be taking part in the brochure as an individual or the whole event in order to be allocated a venue. (Spaces are limited and allocations to venues are not always guaranteed).

If you are a school, college or other educational organisation then please get in touch

Publicity campaign including
Press and media releases
Radio coverage (with possible radio interviews with artists)
Social Media posting, sharing and advertising
Local Magazine advertising
Blogs and media partnerships

A Website
A page on the website where visitors can view your work, videos, contact details and directly link to your social media - it’s like your own personal website.
Over 160,000 hits between from 2020-2023 and 457,000 interactions with the website.
The website has proven useful for further contact being made by those who would like to commission a piece of work or find out more about the artists’ practice.
A supportive Facebook page and group.
Online virtual exhibitions taken from artist content.
Platform to advertise exhibitions, events and workshops information outside of NROS for the whole of the year.
A growing mailing list, tailored to our artists including exhibiting opportunities.

Brochure
An individual section in the brochure to advertise your work and venue
20,000 high quality brochures are distributed (with the help of artists) across the area and beyond to promote the festival and the artists taking part.
See our archive of previous documents here

Central Exhibition
A Central Exhibition showing a great selection of work from the artists taking part, allowing visitors to select which artists they want to visit. Think of it as a physical brochure.
Catalogue production and/or labelling
Administration of sales and quick payments
Production of invitations
Installation of the exhibition and materials to do so (paint, screws, tools etc)
Wrapping and packing materials for sold pieces and delivery to those buyers who can’t collect.

Launch and Closing party
A chance to invite as many guests as you want to a large event
Meet and network with special guests and other artists

Awards and Bursaries
The chance to be awarded several high profile awards including exhibitions, bursaries, framing vouchers, experiences and more.

Buyers and collectors
Known for selling art, having sold over £42,000 in the Central Exhibition alone in 2024.
Having your work on sale as part of NROS highlights it to certain buyers and collectors in the county currently on our mailing lists. They will be invited to all of our events.

-> DON’T wait too long before sending in your forms!!!! - The more time I have the more time you have.
-> DON’T wait for others to organise things within your area.
-> DO champion other artists close by, it’s not a competition, this group is about supporting one another's successes!
-> DO come along to the central exhibition even if you don’t have work on show – it’s a great way to meet the other members, network with any buyers and gallery managers.
-> DO attend some of the group events, even if you THINK you know everything, chances are you might not or you may find a friend to share the experience with.
-> DO reach out, share ideas and ask those silly questions.
-> DON’T rely on NROS to do everything! We can’t hold your hand for everything.
-> DO tag NROS in every social media post
-> DO take advantage of everything NROS provides and read all information carefully and fully!
-> DO ask for help in plenty of time from other artists or the Organiser
-> Think about what work you are showing – does it represent you and your practice at its best?
-> Only add photos that are of a certain quality – A bad photo can make your profile stand out for the wrong reasons.

Open Studio
Events will run throughout September 2025.
Each artist opening up a studio should commit to being open at least one weekend from 10am - 4pm throughout September. Opening during the week is optional, but you must commit to one full weekend in September.
This year's event will be split into two parts:

Rutland and the North of Northants: First half of September
Central and the South of Northants: Second half of September
To see which area you fall into, please download the map. Click here.


What to Expect
It’s hard to predict visitor numbers, especially if it’s your first year. Don’t be discouraged if you only have a few visitors initially. They will come to view your work, talk to you, and might even make a purchase. They’ll be just as nervous as you are, but the experience can be enjoyable and informative. Once the first visitor has been and gone, you’ll get a feel for improvements for future events. Refreshments are a good way to make visitors feel welcome, but this is optional based on what you feel comfortable providing.


What Do You Need to Do?
Promote Widely: Invite people to your studio. We will promote the overall event, but individual promotion is your responsibility.
Ensure Safety and Suitability: Your studio space needs to be safe and suitable for visitors. It doesn't have to be fully accessible, but you should be comfortable allowing people to view your space. When signing up, be honest about your studio’s accessibility.
Prepare Your Studio: Set up your work so visitors can see what you do, including sketchbooks, tools, and works in progress. Have affordable items for sale that may entice visitors to return or commission future work.
Insurance

Insurance for your work in case of any accidental damage.
Public Liability Insurance – https://www.a-n.co.uk/about/insurance/


What Do Visitors Expect?
A warm and friendly welcome.
A conversation about your work.
No pressure to buy.
Interest in materials, inspiration, and the studio space. Only invite visitors into areas you’re comfortable with.
Refreshments, if offered, may lead to expectations for the use of facilities.
If offering "have a go" sessions, provide a space for hand washing.
Card payments are expected for purchases; if you don’t accept cards, clarify this on your profile page when signing up.
Exhibit Your Work at a Venue


Where to Show Your Work:
2025 venues sourced by NROS will be detailed in the newsletter. Keep an eye out for other suitable venues.
There is a £5 promotion fee per artist for the brochure this year to cover advertising space.
What You Need to Do:

Team Work: Appoint a group leader and share responsibilities and costs among the group.
Follow Deadlines: Adhere to install and take-down dates agreed with the venue.
Promote: Collaborate with the venue to promote the exhibition.
Prepare: Provide an artist statement and labels if required. Be ready to install or assist with installation. Only commit if you can meet deadlines and share the workload.
What the Venue Needs:

Cooperation and adherence to deadlines.
Your best work.
Stewarding, if required, and potential for demos or workshops.
Promote any preview or meet-the-artist events, sharing costs with the group.
How to Approach Venues Not on the NROS List:

Visit the venue, get contact details of the appropriate person, and explain what NROS is, including directing them to our website.
Attach some of your images and inquire about available space.
Highlight the benefits of participation: increased visitors, promotion via our brochure, website, posters, and social media.
If rejected, try other venues like pubs, cafes, libraries, village halls, or local shop windows.
The Central Exhibition

Artwork Delivery Date (Non-Negotiable): Tuesday, 26th August
Launch Event: Friday 5th September (Times TBC)
Central Exhibition Dates: Every Wednesday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm, 6th September - 4th October
Artwork Collection Date: Saturday 4th October (AFTER the Closing Event) and Sunday, 5th October (Non-Negotiable). £5 fee for late collection.