Art / Spike Island Open Studios
Spike Island prepares for Open Studios 2025
Spike Island has announced its Open Studios weekend for 2025, which will run on May 2-4.
The 80,000 square foot former tea-packing factory turned creative community throws its doors open on an annual basis for a busy and varied programme of workshops, activities and family-friendly events, alongside a chance to explore over 70 artist studios.
This year’s highlights include zine-making and live postcard-printing with the award-winning Spike Print Studio, installations by resident artists Jo Lathwood, Bo Lanyon and Bea Kayani and film screenings by Spike Island Associates Leeza Awojobi and Heather Marks.
Visitors exploring the gallery spaces at Spike Island
There will also be a new ‘virtual exhibition’ commission from artists Steve Dutton and Michelle Marie Forrest called We Are Only Partly Real.
Spike Island is home to both UWE Bristol‘s BA and MA Fine Art courses – and as well as group exhibitions of work and a student-designed bar, programme leaders will be available each afternoon to discuss with prospective candidates the range of postgraduate arts courses on offer.
Megan Broadmeadow is a lecturer in the subject, and is clear about the significance of the annual open weekend.
Spike Island Open Studios – photo: Dan Weill
“Spike Open provides a unique opportunity for UWE Fine Art students to create ambitious, playful and powerful statements about what art means to them” she reflects; “and in turn that encapsulates the spirit of Bristol’s cultural landscape at that moment in time. “It’s an annual highlight of Bristol’s artistic community, and an event that is not to be missed.”
The access-all-areas weekend will naturally extend to the main gallery spaces, which are currently hosting twin exhibitions from Danielle Dean (This Could All Be Yours!) and Dan Guthrie (Empty Alcove/Rotting Figure) – due to run until May 11.
Alongside the Spike Island café, Emmeline, pop-up food and drink vendors will be in situ across the event, including Jikoni East Africa, Ceylon & Beyond, Jazweiners and Left Handed Giant.
A display of work by Spike Island residents
Spike Island Open Studios 2024 is on May 2-4 at 11am-5pm.
There is a preview evening on Friday May 2 at 6.00-9.00pm, for which booking is advised; booking is also required for the Yard Party at 9pm-midnight.
The entire weekend is accessible and free to attend. More information about the weekend programme is available at www.spikeisland.org.uk.
All photos: Dan Weill
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