COS25: The 14th running of the hugely popular visual arts trail

COS25 is the 14th time the artists from Cheltenham Open Studios have opened their doors to the public in this celebration of the visual art being made in the area. Now a biennial event, it has become an important part of the cultural landscape for artists and art lovers alike. The first event, in 2001, saw just 46 artists take part; in 2023, the last time the event was staged, over 10,000 people visited the studios, workrooms and exhibition spaces of over 200 artists working in Cheltenham and its surrounds. This year’s event runs from 7 to 15 June and is shaping up to be even richer and more diverse than ever.

Organised by artist-run association, Cheltenham Open Studios, the trail links together 78 different exhibition venues, in which you can meet the artists, view their work, learn about their practice, and even have a go yourself. For savvy art buyers, it offers a great opportunity to buy art direct from the artists.

Gardens Gallery, with its central location in Montpellier Gardens, is home to its taster exhibition. As venue number one, it will give people a flavour of the range of work on show and signpost them on to the other venues on the trail. It’s not only a great place to pick up your free guidebook but also a 5”x5” piece of original art for just £10. This not only offers you the chance of an original art bargain, but with all proceeds going to the not-for-profit association, it also enables you to support the arts locally.

From painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and drawing to mixed-media, textiles, glass, metalwork, illustration, artists’ books and woodcarving, it shows the breadth and depth of creativity in the area. And from hobby artists to professionals and students to course leaders it showcases a range of abilities and developing practices.

Once again, the University of Gloucestershire is a key venue on the trail, while the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum makes a welcome return, offering the opportunity for participants in its innovative artists in residence programme to exhibit their work.

Visit the Cheltenham Open Studios’ website for an online guide and an interactive map. QR codes at each venue will enable you to dig deeper into the work of your favourite artists.

Focused on the centre of Cheltenham the art trail radiates outwards to its surrounds. For a preview of what’s in store, visit: www.cheltenhamopenstudios.org.uk

ENDS

Artist and COS Patron, PJ Crook MBE, writes:

“There has been much talked about the development of AI and the fear it may gain the capacity to work against humanity. It has also been claimed that it is where the future of art might lie. But surely these insentient machines can only analyse and regurgitate what we put into them. They can never compare with the self expression of the human soul. We have made marks in the sand or on the walls of caves in Lasceaux etc. for thousands of years and when I see the multitude of ways in which the two hundred or so artists who make up Cheltenham Open Studios bring forth the fruits of their labour for this exuberant, enticing, exciting celebration of painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and illustration I am reassured that human creativity will always flourish.

So here’s your chance to get up close and personal with the actual artists by visiting and engaging in conversation with them in the spaces where that magic and mysterious creative process happens. And if you fall in love with a piece they might even allow you to buy it to take home and inspire you!“

Cheltenham Open Studios is a not-for-profit association run by artists. Like other Open Studios organisations around the country, it is evolving out of an art festival event into a thriving and supportive community of artists. With well over 200 members, it aims to network artists together to promote the visual arts in Cheltenham and its surrounds, engaging people with the original art made here. COS25 art trail is part of the key events put on by the association, now a biennial event, it has become an important part of the cultural landscape for artists and art lovers alike.

Niki Whitfield
Creative Director
T: 07821 098171
E: niki@cheltenhamopenstudios.org.uk

Meet the artists, view their work, learn about their practice.

COS25, 7 - 15 June

To join in, visit:
cheltenhamopenstudios.org.uk