OPEN STUDIO FOR DORSET ART WEEKS 2021

Well, we’re just about ready for the grand opening tomorrow morning! As always, there’s a myriad of last-minute mini-panics: Ask our lovely neighbour if we can put up a sign on their wall…..Find a nice cloth for this display table…..Sweep the garden – but is there any point while it’s still blowing a gale?

Mark and I have opened our home studio several times over the past few years, both here in Sherborne and where we used to live near Saffron Walden in Essex. We have a checklist of essential things to remember, but every time is slightly different – and of course, this year we have the added issue of Covid-19.

 The required precautions are all in place. Our studio is spacious and well-ventilated, and visitors have our lovely walled garden to explore if they do need to wait a short time – with seats under cover if necessary! We’ve downloaded an NHS Test & Trace QR code, and have plenty of sanitiser available, so you can visit in comfort and safety.

 We’ll be ready to welcome you any time between 11am and 6pm, every day from Saturday 22^nd May until Sunday 6^th June.

The studio is Venue 186, in Priestlands Lane, Sherborne DT9 4EY, off Bristol Road, just north of the traffic lights – if you use W3W it’s warnings.lanes.appointed.

There’s no parking directly outside, but we’re only a couple of minutes’ walk from the Pay & Display in Coldharbour. Access is through our garden and there are several steps up and down.

 Because the Covid situation was so uncertain, it was decided not to print the usual brochures with opening times etc, as these could be liable to change at the last minute. However, you can see full details of all participating studios on the Dorset Art Weeks website: https://www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk/directory/map

All that’s left to do now is finish labelling everything, put the step-ladder and vacuum-cleaner away, clear up my work-table (which is still a horrible muddle), decide which work-in-progress I’m going to be working on, update my socials, re-write and laminate a copy of my Artist Statement……..heck, I’d better get started!