A Timeline of Open Studios
1997 Ashley Hold has the idea for open studios in Cornwall at the Tall Ships event in Falmouth. He discusses it with Tim Shaw who shares Ashley’s enthusiasm and suggests they talk to Pat Macleod, gallery owner.
1998 The first open studios event takes place in Falmouth and Penryn, organized by Ashley Hold, Pat Macleod, and Julie Bruce, with headquarters at The Market Street Mews in Penryn. Their logo was the word ‘Art’ written in paintbrush style and usually red on black.
1999–2002 Their initiative expands across Cornwall and parts of Devon, including Plymouth, and is renamed Open Studios South West (sw) to reflect its broader reach and funding from South West Art granted in 2001.
2004 Pat Macleod and Julie Bruce move to South Africa, and Ashley Hold steps back. Management of the event is handed over to Creative Kernow, a local arts charity.
2007 Under Creative Kernow’s stewardship, the event was re-branded as Open Studios Cornwall using the capital letter ‘O’ in orange as their logo created by Two Design. OSC becomes a staple of the cultural calendar, fostering community engagement and showcasing Cornwall’s artistic talent.
2008 Visitor numbers increased with the impact of the new brand identity 2,100 visitors in 2006 to 10,000 visitors in 2008.
2012 Creative Kernow launches the first website for Open Studios Cornwall.
2019 The event attracts an estimated 25,000 visitors and 330 artists, makers & participants generating an estimated £240k in revenue.
2021 Covid forces the cancellation of the event.
2024 Creative Kernow announces it will no longer run Open Studios Cornwall, ending their 20-year custodianship on 5 September.
The following day the event is relaunched by Jeremy Sanders with a new brand name, Cornwall Open Studios. His page on Instagram gained followers rapidly, tapping into the rich legacy of the event and artists’ and makers’ enthusiasm for it.
2025 With over 270 artists and makers registered the survival of open studios in Cornwall is assured.
