FAQs
You can find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. If you have a question that isn’t answered here you can contact us on info@camopenstudios.org.
Joining and Membership
How do I join Cambridge Open Studios?
There are different membership levels available for artists, COS Friends, commercial galleries, museums and arts charities, and affiliated groups of artists.
If you are an artist and would like to join, or you are a supporter of the arts and would like to become a friend, you can sign up through the website:
Can anyone join?
Yes, COS is open to all amateur and professional artists and makers, we do not have a selection process. Members need to have their home and studio in Cambridgeshire or the CB post code area.
When is the deadline to join?
Annual membership is open year-round but if you want to take part in July Open Studios you must be a member by 31 January.
How much does annual membership cost?
Fees are set each year at the AGM. For 2023, the annual membership cost is £60. New members are charged an additional £30 for administration and to receive the COS yellow flag. There is a separate fee for participating in the July Open Studio art festival (see below).
What happens if I don’t renew my membership?
If you don’t renew at the end of each year, your membership will end and your data will be removed from the COS website. You’ll need to sign up as a new member for the full fee of £90 if you want to rejoin at a later date.
July Open Studios
Does it cost to participate in the July Open Studio Art Festival?
Yes. The fee is set each year depending on budget. For 2023, it will cost £140 for solo exhibitors to participate in the July festival. Details on group costs can be found below.
How do I register to participate?
You must be a COS member in order to register to participate in July Open Studios. Once you are a member, you will have the option to register for Open Studios through your account. Please note the deadline for registration is 31 January, so you must also be a COS member by this date.
When is the deadline to register?
The deadline to register for July Open Studios is 31 January 2023.
When is the deadline for my guidebook content?
The deadline for guidebook entries is 14 February 2023. You’ll receive an email when the website is open to accept guide content.
I’m exhibiting as part of a group, what are the fees?
For groups of 2 to 4 artists the fee is £91 per artist. The fee for groups of 5 or more artists is £98 per artist. Groups will have one entry in the guidebook. If you are exhibiting as part of a group but you would like your own entry in the guide, you can register as a ‘solo exhibitor’ for the fee of £140.
When does my studio need to be open?
You can be open for any or all of the first four weekends in July. You must be open on both the Saturday and Sunday of your chosen weekend/s from 10am to 5pm.
Is there a Winter Open Studios?
Several of our artists run open studios in the winter. We support them as much as possible, but there is no printed guide for this currently.
Can you help me find somewhere to exhibit?
No, but you can join our Slack channel to connect with other artists who might be looking to exhibit with others. Email info@camopenstudios.org to request a Slack invite. You may also find venues advertising space on the member’s forum.
History and Organisation
Who organises and funds COS?
It is run by a team of artist volunteers who employ some key people for things like the website, marketing and guide production. It is a not for profit organisation and all the fees are ploughed back into the organisation. COS does not receive any funding from elsewhere.
What are your environmental policies?
We are reducing the number of guides that are printed. They are locally printed on FSC paper. All vinyl banners are up-cycled into other objects by a local artist. We employ local people where possible.
When was the first COS?
Records began in 1974.