Leek Open Studios - Meet the Maker 2025
Deadline: 28/03/2025City: LEEK | Country: United Kingdom | Leek Open Studios - Meet The Maker
This is a one-day event and will be held on Saturday, 20th September 2025, from 10 am until 4 pm. Leek is a wonderfully creative town, and our event is designed to offer local (30-mile radius) artists or designer-makers the chance to celebrate their creativity and showcase how they work to an engaged and enthusiastic audience.
This is a “Meet the Maker” event, and whilst you are welcome to make sales and display your work on the day, the event is primarily an opportunity to meet the public and demonstrate what you do.
It’s a chance to engage and inspire your visitors and we encourage you to offer opportunities for public participation if appropriate to your work.
You can apply to take part using your own studio space or for those who do not have a studio in the town or would prefer a shared space for the day, we will be arranging Creative Hub spaces at central venues in Leek.
Please have a look at our website or our social media accounts for more information and images of our previous year’s events.
This is the third year we have run the event with hub spaces, allowing for a larger number of participants, and it is a well-attended and growing event.
Early Bird Offer - Save £5 on the event fee if you apply and pay by the 7th February 2025.
Selection Criteria
- Applicants must live within 30 miles of Leek.
- To be paid on application. Early Bird Offer - £40 if application and payment are received by 7th February 2025. Full Fee - £45 if application and payment are made AFTER 7th February 2025.
- You must have Public Liability Insurance and a copy must be submitted as part of your application.
- You must submit a risk assessment for your planned demonstration and display for the event day with your application.
- You will need to submit good quality images to support your application. 5 detailing your work and 3 demonstrating your process. Ideally one should include yourself, but this is not a requirement.
- You must be an artist, designer or craftsperson – e.g. painter, printmaker, jeweller, graphic artist, ceramicist, mixed media artist, textile artist or illustrator. This is not an exhaustive list, so please get in touch if you have any questions about your creative discipline if it is not listed here.
- You (as the applicant) must be the artist/ designer maker of the items you display and sell.
- You (as the artist or designer maker) must be the person running your display and demonstrating your work, although you may have people helping you out on the day.
- There is a selection process for taking part in the Leek Open Studios - Meet the Maker Event, and the organisers reserve the right to decline an application that doesn’t fit the criteria. Please read them carefully and email if you are unsure before applying.
- If we are oversubscribed, we will give preference in order of application and date received – i.e. first come, first served.
- Applicants will be notified by Friday 4th April.
Group applications are not accepted.
A group may arrange to display in the same venue, but each artist must apply as an individual. This is to ensure that all artists are equally and fairly represented in our marketing.
Payment is due on application, and your application can not be processed without it.
There are more details and instructions on each section of the form, we suggest you look over it before you start filling it in and have your images ready to upload.
Sections marked with an asterisk must be completed. Please use the "Contact Curator" tab if you have any questions , but please bear in mind that it may take a few days for us to get back to you as we work on this voluntarily.
Many thanks for your interest in our event.
What is the date when this event is held?
Leek Open Studios - Meet the Maker 2025 will be held on 20th September 2025.
What are the event opening hours?
10 am - 4 pm.
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
Anyone living within a 30 mile radius of Leek who makes their own work and can come and display and demonstrate what they do at the event.
When is the deadline?
Midnight on the 28th March 2025.
How much does it cost?
Early Bird Offer - £40 if application and payment received by 7th February 2025.
Full Fee of - £45 if application and payment received AFTER 7th February 2025.
Your application will not be processed without payment.
If for any reason you are not accepted as part of this event a full refund will be made within 6 weeks of the closing date. If you withdraw from the event, refunds will be made at the discretion of the organisers and are dependent on whether money has already been paid out for printing etc..
Full Fee of - £45 if application and payment received AFTER 7th February 2025.
Your application will not be processed without payment.
If for any reason you are not accepted as part of this event a full refund will be made within 6 weeks of the closing date. If you withdraw from the event, refunds will be made at the discretion of the organisers and are dependent on whether money has already been paid out for printing etc..
What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?
We produce a leaflet with a map of all the participating venues. This will have the artists name and brief description of their work with either a website or social media link. We will also promote the event on social media which includes mentions of participants and images of their work. In addition we have a website where the full description of participant's work and all links supplied will be available to the public.
Do I need to be present?
Yes.
Where will my venue be listed?
On our website and on the printed leaflet.
What is your selection criteria?
Selection Criteria
• Applicants must live within 30 miles of Leek.
• Fee of £40 OR 45 to be paid on application. See Submission form and FAQs for more details.
• You must have Public Liability Insurance, and a copy must be submitted as part of your application.
• You must submit a risk assessment for your planned demonstration and display for the event day with your application.
• You will need to submit good quality images to support your application. 5 detailing your work and 3 demonstrating your process. Ideally, one should include yourself, but this is not a requirement.
• You must be an artist, designer or crafts person – e.g. painter, printmaker, jeweller, graphic artist, ceramicist, mixed media artist, textile artist or illustrator. This is not an exhaustive list so please get in touch if you have any questions about your creative discipline if it is not listed here.
• You (as the applicant) must be the artist/ designer maker of the items you display and sell.
• You (as the artist or designer maker) must be the person running your display and demonstrating your work, although you may have people helping you out on the day.
• There is a selection process to take part in the Leek Open Studios - Meet the Maker Event and the organisers reserve the right to decline an application that doesn’t fit the criteria. Please read them carefully and email if you are unsure before applying.
• If we are oversubscribed, we will give preference in order of application, date received – i.e. first come, first served.
• Applicants will be notified by Friday 4th April.
Payment is due on application and your application can not be processed without it.
• Applicants must live within 30 miles of Leek.
• Fee of £40 OR 45 to be paid on application. See Submission form and FAQs for more details.
• You must have Public Liability Insurance, and a copy must be submitted as part of your application.
• You must submit a risk assessment for your planned demonstration and display for the event day with your application.
• You will need to submit good quality images to support your application. 5 detailing your work and 3 demonstrating your process. Ideally, one should include yourself, but this is not a requirement.
• You must be an artist, designer or crafts person – e.g. painter, printmaker, jeweller, graphic artist, ceramicist, mixed media artist, textile artist or illustrator. This is not an exhaustive list so please get in touch if you have any questions about your creative discipline if it is not listed here.
• You (as the applicant) must be the artist/ designer maker of the items you display and sell.
• You (as the artist or designer maker) must be the person running your display and demonstrating your work, although you may have people helping you out on the day.
• There is a selection process to take part in the Leek Open Studios - Meet the Maker Event and the organisers reserve the right to decline an application that doesn’t fit the criteria. Please read them carefully and email if you are unsure before applying.
• If we are oversubscribed, we will give preference in order of application, date received – i.e. first come, first served.
• Applicants will be notified by Friday 4th April.
Payment is due on application and your application can not be processed without it.
What happens if I am selected?
We will send out more event guidance once we have accepted your application. You will also be sent a full event pack including (where appropriate) hub location, parking, set up for the day and preparation ideas for the event and tips for social media engagement at the end of July.
What are the setting up arrangements?
As this event is held over many venues you will be given more details about this when you are notified which venue you will be displaying and demonstrating your work in.
Do I need to have Public Liability Insurance?
All participants of this event must have their own public liability insurance. If you are using your own studio or a space you have arranged yourself, it is your responsibility as the Artist/Designer to make sure the venue has appropriate liability insurance, meets fire safety requirements for public visitors and complete a full risk assessment for the studio. These will be requested once we have confirmed your successful application.
There are organisations that offer cost-effective public liability insurance, such as Artists Newsletter, CuratorSpace or Artists Interaction and Representation. If you require any more help, please do get in touch on the email above before you apply.
There are organisations that offer cost-effective public liability insurance, such as Artists Newsletter, CuratorSpace or Artists Interaction and Representation. If you require any more help, please do get in touch on the email above before you apply.
If I am not selected will I get a refund?
A full refund will be made to anyone we are not able to accept to the Leek Open Studios – Meet the Maker event. If you withdraw from the event, refunds will be made at the discretion of the organisers and are dependent on whether money has already been paid out for printing etc..
How do you market the event?
Whilst Leek Open Studios will be producing event maps, updating the website and seeking a variety marketing opportunities, we do expect participants do their bit in spreading the word. We will provide logos and send out more guidance once we have accepted your application. All participants will be expected to help to promote the event by distributing leaflets, posters, sharing on social media and with their own audiences via newsletters, for example.
Please follow us on social media:
www.facebook.com/LeekOpenStudios
www.instagram.com/leekopenstudios
Our website is:
www.leekopenstudios.org
Please follow us on social media:
www.facebook.com/LeekOpenStudios
www.instagram.com/leekopenstudios
Our website is:
www.leekopenstudios.org
If I have my own studio can I use it to take part?
Your studio needs to be within the designated map area of central Leek. You can see the map we use here https://www.leekopenstudios.org/map/ If you have any questions about this please get in touch.
Your studio space should be a working environment where you are able to demonstrate your skills to the public, and that the public can access easily. Each artist/maker will need to take responsibility for the health and safety of visitors to their space/studio. You will be asked to complete a simple risk assessment before the event.
Your studio space should be a working environment where you are able to demonstrate your skills to the public, and that the public can access easily. Each artist/maker will need to take responsibility for the health and safety of visitors to their space/studio. You will be asked to complete a simple risk assessment before the event.
If I do not have my own studio how will I be allocated a venue?
Creative Hub spaces will be allocated to the artist/maker by the selection group, we will do our best to provide a suitable space. If you have specific requirements we will do our best to accommodate these, but cannot guarantee this.
What happens if you have more artists than venue spaces?
We will try to find suitable venues for each artist/maker who is not in a local studio, but it may not be possible to house everyone. If we cannot accommodate you, we will refund your application fee in full.
Will I be able to visit the venue in advance?
Once the venue has been allocated further details will be provided about the possibility of accessing the venue in advance. We know that some people find this useful. You will also be given the names of other participants at the same venue as you, so that you can contact them via social media if you want to.
Terms and Conditions
Public Liability
All participants of this event must have their own public liability insurance. If you are accepted by the cooperative, then you will need to make sure you have your own liability insurance as no one in the cooperative will be liable in any circumstances. If you are using your own studio or a space you have arranged yourself, it is your responsibility as the Artist/Designer to make sure the venue has appropriate liability insurance, meets fire safety requirements for public visitors and complete a full risk assessment for the studio. These will be requested once we have confirmed your successful application.
There are organisations that offer cost-effective public liability insurance, such as Artists Newsletter, CuratorSpace or Artists Interaction and Representation. If you require any more help, please do get in touch on the email above before you apply.
Risk Assessment
All participants must also submit a full risk assessment for the planned demonstration and the display of any work on the day. You can follow the link below to a short guide on risk assessments and if you need any further help with this, please email graham@leekopenarts.org
https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/campaigns-fundraising/hse-five-steps-to-risk-assessment.pdf
Payments, cancellations and refunds
Payments of fees are required on application. The fee gives you, as the artist/designer, entry to the event and covers all event costs, including printing, promotional leaflets, website hosting and all publicity (including social media). You will only be included on the map/leaflet plus the website on payment of the full fee.
If for any reason we are unable to accept your application to the event you will be issued a full refund. Other refunds will be made at the discretion of the organisers and are dependent on which stage of the planning this decision must be made. (Specific dates maybe for how much can be refunded)
Data Protection
The data you provide is being collected for the sole purpose of organising and marketing events by Leek Open Studios organisers. It will be kept for as long as the event continues to be run, unless you request your details to be removed. To have your details removed from our database please contact heather@leekopenstudios.org
Marketing
This is a cooperative event and relies on all of us to spread the word. We ask everyone to mention this event on their social media using hash tags #LeekMeetTheMaker #LeekOpenStudios #LeekArtsTrail.
www.facebook.com/LeekOpenStudios
www.instagram.com/leekopenstudios_arttrail
www.leekopenstudios.org
As part of the conditions of entry all participants will be expected to help to promote the event by distributing leaflets, posters and sharing on social media. We will notify you of when these are ready to be collected and where you will be able to collect them from. For those from further afield, we can post a small batch of leaflets out if requested.
We will send out more event guidance once we have accepted your application. You will also be sent a full event pack including (where appropriate) hub location, parking, set up for the day and preparation ideas for the event and tips for social media engagement at the end of July.
Venues
Relating to Artists/Makers with Studios
• For Open Studios the studio space should be a working environment where you are able to demonstrate your skills to the public.
• Every artist/designer will need to organise their own studio/demonstration space. All venues need to be within the designated map area of central Leek. You can see the map we use here https://www.leekopenstudios.org/map/ Please get in touch if you have any questions about this. Each artist/designer will need to take responsibility for the health and safety of visitors to their space/studio and appropriate insurance and fire safety for having visitors in their studios.
Creative Hub Venues
For those of you without your own suitable studio space, we are offering Creative Hub spaces within central Leek venues. We will provide all hub space participants with at least one table, but you will have space for an additional table or display stand of your own should you wish. Specific details on the exact size of your space and table provision will be sent to you once we have allocated all spaces. We will try our very best to find suitable venues for each artist/maker, but it may not be possible to house everyone. If we cannot accommodate you, we will refund your application fee in full.
You may request specific requirements, access to water, electricity etc. and we will do our best to accommodate these. We cannot guarantee that these will be available but will contact you in good time so appropriate adjustments can be made or a full refund can be issued if a compromise cannot be found.
Once your Creative Hub space has been allocated, we will email you the venue contact’s name and details, including a list of other artists at this hub. You are asked to liaise directly with your “venue contact” if you have any questions regarding the venue. A full event pack will be sent out at the end of July, which should cover the event set up, parking for the day and venue specific arrangements.
Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure the venue is left as clean and tidy as it was found, and you may wish to consider this when planning your activities.
Demonstrations
When thinking about what to demonstrate, concentrate on what you want to show the visitors about your work or craft. If you are using your own studio for the event, you will have access to all your equipment and materials but if you are using a hub space you will have to bring everything you need with you, so this may influence your choice. One way to simplify your process may be to break it down into stages and bring examples of these, which you can then talk to the visitors about. Take a look at the website for more ideas of what artists have done before and images from the previous events. Please be as detailed as possible so we can endeavour to provide a suitable space. If you have any questions about what might be suitable or possible, please email us at heather@leekopenstudios.org
Groups
Group applications for this event can’t be accepted, however groups may exhibit together in the same venue, (if this is through our Creative Hub spaces and not your own studio, please request this on your application form in the Other Notes section). Each participating artist must apply as an individual and will benefit from an individual listing on the map and on our website.
The Organisation and your support
This is a cooperative event between the event organisers and you as artists/designer makers, please be aware that all the event team are volunteers – please respect them and their hard work to bring you this opportunity. If, however, there’s something you think needs changing then please do contact us.
• The cooperative reserve the right to decline an application.
• The cooperative reserve the right to withdraw the event should sufficient volunteers not be available.
• The cooperative reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event should it become necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.
Anyone can attend the committee meetings. We are informal. We currently rely on a core number of volunteers and the workload is growing. Even if you can only spare an hour please volunteer – the event is growing rapidly, and we don’t want to wear the existing volunteers out.
Please remember that those on the committee are doing so in their spare time, they have careers, jobs, family commitments, businesses, art to make etc. It may affect their ability to respond immediately - please be patient!
Queries and offers of help to be addressed to heather@leekopenstudios.org
All participants of this event must have their own public liability insurance. If you are accepted by the cooperative, then you will need to make sure you have your own liability insurance as no one in the cooperative will be liable in any circumstances. If you are using your own studio or a space you have arranged yourself, it is your responsibility as the Artist/Designer to make sure the venue has appropriate liability insurance, meets fire safety requirements for public visitors and complete a full risk assessment for the studio. These will be requested once we have confirmed your successful application.
There are organisations that offer cost-effective public liability insurance, such as Artists Newsletter, CuratorSpace or Artists Interaction and Representation. If you require any more help, please do get in touch on the email above before you apply.
Risk Assessment
All participants must also submit a full risk assessment for the planned demonstration and the display of any work on the day. You can follow the link below to a short guide on risk assessments and if you need any further help with this, please email graham@leekopenarts.org
https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/campaigns-fundraising/hse-five-steps-to-risk-assessment.pdf
Payments, cancellations and refunds
Payments of fees are required on application. The fee gives you, as the artist/designer, entry to the event and covers all event costs, including printing, promotional leaflets, website hosting and all publicity (including social media). You will only be included on the map/leaflet plus the website on payment of the full fee.
If for any reason we are unable to accept your application to the event you will be issued a full refund. Other refunds will be made at the discretion of the organisers and are dependent on which stage of the planning this decision must be made. (Specific dates maybe for how much can be refunded)
Data Protection
The data you provide is being collected for the sole purpose of organising and marketing events by Leek Open Studios organisers. It will be kept for as long as the event continues to be run, unless you request your details to be removed. To have your details removed from our database please contact heather@leekopenstudios.org
Marketing
This is a cooperative event and relies on all of us to spread the word. We ask everyone to mention this event on their social media using hash tags #LeekMeetTheMaker #LeekOpenStudios #LeekArtsTrail.
www.facebook.com/LeekOpenStudios
www.instagram.com/leekopenstudios_arttrail
www.leekopenstudios.org
As part of the conditions of entry all participants will be expected to help to promote the event by distributing leaflets, posters and sharing on social media. We will notify you of when these are ready to be collected and where you will be able to collect them from. For those from further afield, we can post a small batch of leaflets out if requested.
We will send out more event guidance once we have accepted your application. You will also be sent a full event pack including (where appropriate) hub location, parking, set up for the day and preparation ideas for the event and tips for social media engagement at the end of July.
Venues
Relating to Artists/Makers with Studios
• For Open Studios the studio space should be a working environment where you are able to demonstrate your skills to the public.
• Every artist/designer will need to organise their own studio/demonstration space. All venues need to be within the designated map area of central Leek. You can see the map we use here https://www.leekopenstudios.org/map/ Please get in touch if you have any questions about this. Each artist/designer will need to take responsibility for the health and safety of visitors to their space/studio and appropriate insurance and fire safety for having visitors in their studios.
Creative Hub Venues
For those of you without your own suitable studio space, we are offering Creative Hub spaces within central Leek venues. We will provide all hub space participants with at least one table, but you will have space for an additional table or display stand of your own should you wish. Specific details on the exact size of your space and table provision will be sent to you once we have allocated all spaces. We will try our very best to find suitable venues for each artist/maker, but it may not be possible to house everyone. If we cannot accommodate you, we will refund your application fee in full.
You may request specific requirements, access to water, electricity etc. and we will do our best to accommodate these. We cannot guarantee that these will be available but will contact you in good time so appropriate adjustments can be made or a full refund can be issued if a compromise cannot be found.
Once your Creative Hub space has been allocated, we will email you the venue contact’s name and details, including a list of other artists at this hub. You are asked to liaise directly with your “venue contact” if you have any questions regarding the venue. A full event pack will be sent out at the end of July, which should cover the event set up, parking for the day and venue specific arrangements.
Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure the venue is left as clean and tidy as it was found, and you may wish to consider this when planning your activities.
Demonstrations
When thinking about what to demonstrate, concentrate on what you want to show the visitors about your work or craft. If you are using your own studio for the event, you will have access to all your equipment and materials but if you are using a hub space you will have to bring everything you need with you, so this may influence your choice. One way to simplify your process may be to break it down into stages and bring examples of these, which you can then talk to the visitors about. Take a look at the website for more ideas of what artists have done before and images from the previous events. Please be as detailed as possible so we can endeavour to provide a suitable space. If you have any questions about what might be suitable or possible, please email us at heather@leekopenstudios.org
Groups
Group applications for this event can’t be accepted, however groups may exhibit together in the same venue, (if this is through our Creative Hub spaces and not your own studio, please request this on your application form in the Other Notes section). Each participating artist must apply as an individual and will benefit from an individual listing on the map and on our website.
The Organisation and your support
This is a cooperative event between the event organisers and you as artists/designer makers, please be aware that all the event team are volunteers – please respect them and their hard work to bring you this opportunity. If, however, there’s something you think needs changing then please do contact us.
• The cooperative reserve the right to decline an application.
• The cooperative reserve the right to withdraw the event should sufficient volunteers not be available.
• The cooperative reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event should it become necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.
Anyone can attend the committee meetings. We are informal. We currently rely on a core number of volunteers and the workload is growing. Even if you can only spare an hour please volunteer – the event is growing rapidly, and we don’t want to wear the existing volunteers out.
Please remember that those on the committee are doing so in their spare time, they have careers, jobs, family commitments, businesses, art to make etc. It may affect their ability to respond immediately - please be patient!
Queries and offers of help to be addressed to heather@leekopenstudios.org
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