Evolver 117 - September and October 2020

SOMERSET OPEN STUDIOS 2020 SOMERSET OPEN STUDIOS 2020 • 2 SOMERSET OPEN STUDIOS is going ahead from 19th September to 4th October, with most of the venues that originally registered taking part in an online version of the event. Some venues will be open by appointment only. They have increased their digital presence, capitalising on the opportunities it offers for live news updates. PAUL NEWMAN, co-ordinator of Somerset Open Studios, and his team have made films of artists in their studio spaces, and encouraged participants to share their ‘stories’ and use them as a marketing device to encourage the public to engage with them. Paul is very clear that SOMERSET ART WORKS does not operate as a commercial sales platform, it is there to support artists. ZOE LI has been working on Get Together , a programme of workshops for artists, which provides advice and training in maximising marketing potential and using social media more effectively. Like so many organisations the pandemic has forced Somerset Art Works to rethink their priorities, and they have concluded that there are four areas that are crucial not only to their survival but to protect and support their artists: socially engaged practice, health and mental wellbeing, creative solutions around climate change, and capitalising on the upsurge of interest in wildlife. The decision to move away from a print version of their programme this year was inspired. CARL MIDDLETON has been operating from his letterpress workshop in Milverton from where he live-streamed United in Isolation , an online letterpress festival, on Facebook in May. It got a lot of coverage worldwide, because of its online accessibility and is still available to view. Just one example of how artists are adapting, using digital platforms to reach out to other artists and to different audiences. The ability to widen scope and make connections further afield via the internet whilst continuing to attract local visitors is a significant change of direction. CONTAINS ART in Watchet is keen to extend their audience and make themselves accessible to everyone. They are hoping to host a question and answer session during Open Studios aimed at the general public as well as artists. MAGNUS HAMMICK, a painter based in Somerset, is represented by CLOSE LTD in Hatch Beauchamp. He divides his time AMANDA BEE (VENUE 64) ABIGAIL HUMPHREY (VENUE 110) IAN MARLOW (VENUE 66)