New city-wide art trail is coming to Gloucester this summer

An array of artworks crafted by members of Gloucester's thriving creative community will be displayed across the city this summer 2024 — with some also opening their studios to the public as part of a brand-new cultural event.

By Jake Chown | Published Thursday 25 July 2024

The Gloucester Open 2024 is being organised by Gloucester Contemporary Artists, an independent network of local artists who are seeking to establish the city as a respected centre for contemporary art.

Local artists, community venues and businesses are teaming up to celebrate creativity in Gloucester with a new city-wide art showcase this summer 2024.

The Gloucester Open 2024 event will feature an art trail taking place at community venues across the city; a range of businesses taking part in an 'adopt an artist' showcase; and local artists opening their studios for the public to visit, all between Thursday 1 August and Sunday 1 September 2024.

The event is organised by Gloucester Contemporary Artists, a newly formed independent network of local artists with a shared ambition to make the city a respected centre for contemporary art, with support from Together Gloucester.

The art trail will see Gloucester artists’ work being exhibited across five venues in the city — Gloucester Framing, St Mary de Crypt, Museum of Gloucester, Cathedral Quarter Hub and Roots Community Hall.

Alongside the trail, a further 20 businesses, including banks, building societies, shops and cafes will display work by local artists as part of the Open’s ‘Adopt an Artist’ campaign.

And later in the month, between Saturday 24 August to Sunday 1 September 2024, six Gloucester artists will provide insight into their creative processes by opening their studios for the public to visit, showcasing nine different local artists’ work.

One of the organisers, Wendy Golding, said of the event's debut in 2024: 'We are proud to join Gloucester's other arts organisations in putting on art events and providing opportunities.

'We look forward to working with them in partnership and collaboration to build a reputation of excellence in the arts for Gloucester, its artists and its community.'

Fellow organiser, David Finch, added: 'Gloucester has a wealth of talented artists but, without an art centre, exhibition space or gallery, their work is seldom seen in their home city.

'Gloucester Open is our first step towards creating more visual arts opportunities for the people of Gloucester.'

To find out more about the Gloucester Open 2024, visit the Gloucester Contemporary Artists website.