Chichester Open Studios Art Trail 2021 switches to July

Chichester Open Studios Art Trail 2021 is set to go ahead this summer, with scores of artists hoping to put last year’s disappointments behind them.
Nicola HancockNicola Hancock
Nicola Hancock

Organiser Nicola Hancock has confirmed that the trail will take place in July this year, rather than its usual May slot.

Coinciding with the final week of this year’s Festival of Chichester, the first weekend will be Saturday and Sunday July 10 and 11.

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The 2021 trail will then conclude the following weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18. Venues will be open from 10.30am-5pm each day bringing together 120 artists exhibiting a wide range of work across 112 venues in and around the city of Chichester.

The event will offer a number of different trails within the trail: Peninsula, Regis, City, Downs, Harbour and Online.

As Nicola explains, visitors can explore one trail at a time or hop around venues as they choose – a chance to enjoy the art and hospitality of our talented local artists for four days in July.

“In the online trail you can see the art of those artists who are unable to open their venues this year. They are included in the trail guide and on the website and will be pleased to hear from you to arrange a visit at a future date.”

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Nicola is delighted to confirm the arrangements – though she admits she is still hoping for the best.

“There has just been talk of a third wave so really we have just got to keep hoping.

“It would feel like such liberation if we can actually go ahead.

“It will be really exciting. We had to follow all the government guidelines, and we were waiting until the end of February for the roadmap out of lockdown.

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“After June 21 the restrictions are lifted, so obviously doing something in May wasn’t actually possible. I suppose we could have gone online again (as the trail did last year), but I thought it was better to have the trail later and actually do it but also try to have it before the school holidays.”

Originally it looked as it there were going to be 132 artists, but a dozen have dropped out, not feeling quite ready yet.

“But we have got 120 artists who are keen to take part. We usually get more than that, but I pleased that we have got that many.”

The big challenge now is to get the trail guide ready in good time. Nicola is hoping to get it printed for early June to give people plenty of time to explore what’s coming up.

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Trail guides will be available from Pallant House Gallery, the Oxmarket Gallery, the Novium, Chichester Library and other central locations from the beginning of June. Each artist will have some guides at their venue during the trail.

Visit www.chichesterarttrail.org for more information about the Chichester Art Trail and its artists.

Artists will include Emma Adams, Lauren Alderslade, Sarah Amos, Catherine Barnes, Tim Bartell, Collette Batho, Alexandra Beale, Fiona Bell-Currie, Jacky Bellamy, Camilla Blackett, Heather Bowring, Maureen Brigden, Victoria Brown, Anne Burn, Joan Burnett, Daphne Casdagli, Fiona Champion, Gaye Clear, Stephen Codner, Lucie Cookson, Rob Corfield, Jan Culverwell, Ghislaine Davis, Isabel Dodson, Natalie Dowse, Gael Emmett, Sue England, Mathew Fahy, Jo Flatt, Laura Fletcher, Linda Foskett and Jane Fowler.

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