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CuratorSpace | Project management tools for curators and artists

York Open Studios Call For Artists 2027

Deadline: 25/07/2026

City: York  |  Region: North Yorkshire  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  York Open Studios

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York Open Studios is York's longest running arts festival, and we will be holding our next event across the weekends of 17-18 and 24-25 April 2027.

Our selected artists open their workshops, studios, and homes over two weekends every year - it is a great opportunity for the public to meet artists and to really see how they work.

We pride ourselves on having an independent selection process and on supporting students, newly emerging, and established artists, encouraging a wider interest in the arts in York.

York Open Studios was founded by Anne Hutchison and Gail Fox and the first event was held in 2002 with 19 other exhibitors. 

Since then we have introduced over 600 York artists to our visitors, including over 60 higher education students, and have given bursaries to more than 20 multimedia artists.  We continue to be run by a small volunteer committee.

To apply, you must live or have a permanent studio within a ten-mile radius of York city centre.  We welcome applications from artists at all stages in their careers.

We're aware that the text on Curator Space is quite small, so if you would like a clear, large print, copy of this description, the FAQs, and the application form, click here for a PDF version which you can download or print.

To submit:

Before you start to complete the form, you must read the Information for Applicants.

This document includes the terms and conditions, expectations, and a timetable, as well as some helpful tips for completing the application form. 

It is particularly important to follow the instructions on submitting images and supporting text.

You should also read the FAQs for the opportunity before you complete the application form.

Costs:

There is no fee to submit an application. 

We charge £130 for successful applications. 

Full time students in any discipline, and recent graduates of arts courses (within 2 years), pay a reduced fee of £65. 

Artists pay a commission of 10% on their sales over £300.

York Open Studios is completely funded by these fees and the commission from artists. 

Your fee contributes towards the printed directory, our website, social media, and publicity in the York area and beyond.

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
Artists and craftspeople who create original 2D, 3D, or digital work, and who live or have a permanent studio within ten miles of York city centre at the time of the Open Studios weekends. Applicants must be 18 or over.
When is the deadline?
11.59 pm, Saturday 25 July 2026.
What are the venue criteria?
You can use your own permanent studio, workshop, home, or an educational establishment where you teach or where you are artist in residence. Borrowed or hired venues are not permitted, and short term or temporary charity lets are not acceptable, as it is not guaranteed that you will be in residence there at the time of the event.

The following applies to those applying through this standard application route, and also to bursary artists:
Up to five artists can share a venue as long as at least one of these artists uses the space on a permanent basis. If there are more than five artists who are all permanently resident in a venue then they will be permitted to show together. A venue with more than five permanent artists cannot host additional guest artists.

Where applicants use a shared studio space, they should discuss in advance with their colleagues what would happen if one or more of them does not apply, or is not selected, for the event. YOS terms and conditions include that only work by selected artists can be shown, so for example:
A, B, C and D work together in a studio
A doesn’t apply for YOS
B, C and D apply for YOS
B and C are selected
D is not selected
then only the work of B and C can be on display during the YOS opening times.
What are the opening hours?
Friday 16 April: 6 - 9 pm (optional preview evening)
Saturday 17 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 18 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday 24 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 25 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Is there a private view / opening?
Artists can choose to have a public preview on the evening of Friday 16 April which will be published in the directory and on the website. Artists can also choose to have a private preview on this evening but this will not be published.
Do I need to be present?
Yes, you must be present at your venue at all published times on both weekends.
How much does it cost?
There is no fee to submit an application.

We charge £130 for successful applications. Full time students in any discipline, and recent graduates of arts courses (within 2 years), pay a reduced fee of £65. Artists pay a commission of 10% on their sales over £300.

York Open Studios is completely funded by these fees and the commission from artists. Your fee contributes towards the printed directory, our website and social media, and publicity in the York area and beyond.
How do you decide on applications/proposals?
We employ an independent panel of arts professionals from outside the York area to select our artists.
What are the selection criteria?
The independent selection panel are asked to apply the following criteria:

- We are keen to show a wide range of disciplines, but we expect the work to be original and high quality, and demonstrate a clear direction and vision.
- We want our visitors to be excited by the work on offer.
- The work submitted should evoke a positive response, and you should use your knowledge and experience to come to a decision.
- Think about qualities such as use and application of materials, composition, consistent style, and work showing creative commitment and a professional outlook.
- Presentation and execution of work must be of a consistently high quality.
- Please also consider the professionalism of the images presented (in focus, properly lit, etc.). If the applicant is successful, these are the images that will be used in our printed directory and on our website.

Decisions will be based purely on the quality of the applications submitted, so make sure your images are high quality and show your work clearly. You are asked for a description of your work and you must make sure the panel understands what they are looking at.

The panel may also research your previous work via your website, but time is always tight and first impressions from the submitted images and description are crucial. Artists who submit poor quality images or descriptions that are too brief are unlikely to be selected.

The decision of the selection panel is final and the YOS committee is unable to give feedback to individuals on their applications.
How many images do I need to submit?
We require five good quality JPG images of the type of work you expect to show in April. At least three of the images must be individual works but two may be detail or close-up shots if you feel it would support your application.

Your images must be high quality and show your work clearly and professionally. They will be used by the panel during selection, and then if you are successful they will be used on our website, marketing materials and social media. Take some time to think if these images best represent your work - to stand out to the selectors, and to attract potential visitors to your studio.

If you have taken part in YOS before, please don’t use the same five images of artwork from a previous year - we want to keep the directory and website fresh.

Do not submit screenshots, cropped or bordered images: send only originals. Do not submit a picture of yourself or your studio - if your application is successful we will request a profile picture later.

You should prepare your images on your device BEFORE uploading them – it is difficult to rename them within Curator Space, and we require each image to be supplied as specified.

See the Information for Applicants document (link on the description page) for more information on image requirements.
What happens next?
Once the selection panel has completed their work, you will receive an email via Curator Space to let you know whether you have been accepted or not.

For those who have been accepted, you will receive a further form to fill in which asks additional questions for your directory entry and to confirm that you agree to the terms and conditions. You will also be asked to pay your admission fee. The deadline for payment and provision of these further details is Friday 25 September 2026.
What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?
Each artist will have a dedicated page on our website and will be showcased across our social media channels. A printed directory with images, venue address and contact details will be produced including a handy map showing all venues. We employ a PR agency who provide press coverage and place adverts in local and national publications.
Tell me about the taster exhibition
We hope to have a Taster Exhibition at the Hospitium in the Museum Gardens, on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April (with delivery of work on Friday 9 April). This is an opportunity for all of our participating artists to display a piece of their work and it gives visitors a chance to plan which studios they'd like to visit. At this stage you do not need to say whether you would like to be part of this but you should make a note of the dates. More information will be circulated nearer the time.
Will I need to attend any meetings?
Yes, it is necessary for you to attend a meeting in the autumn where the YOS committee will introduce themselves, welcome new artists and give you important information about the event. There will be two meetings, each following the same agenda, and you are expected to attend one of these, on either Tuesday 8 September (evening) OR Saturday 19 September (morning).

There will also be an optional meeting/social in March where new artists and people who have exhibited before can get together to share useful hints and tips on how to get the most out of York Open Studios, and a celebration social after the event.
How is York Open Studios run?
York Open Studios is run by a committee of volunteers - a mixture of YOS artists and non-artists who are passionate about the event.

See https://yorkopenstudios.co.uk/ for more information about YOS.

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