FAQ
Our Frequently asked questions are set up in sections, artists and members and then visitors.
Artists and Members
What are the dates for Perthshire Open Studios 2026?
The dates for 2026 are Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th September 2026.
Am I eligible to join Perthshire Open Studios?
Membership of Perthshire Open Studios is open to all amateur and professional artists and makers, we do not have a selection process. Members must live or have their working studio within the Perth and Kinross geographic area.
Can I join if I live outside the area?
Members of Perthshire Open Studios can live outwith Perth and Kinross but the venue at which you exhibit must be within the Perthshire Open Studios geographic area. We do have some legacy members whose venues are outside this area.
How does sign-up work?
This website is open for sign-up from the 1st February to 31st March and all payments must be received by 31 March. (Unfortunately, due to printing and website deadlines, no entries can be accepted beyond this).
Conditions of entry are available here.
Once your fees are paid, you will receive notification, by email, which is confirmation that your application has been accepted.
You can upload images and text to your online artist page as soon as your fees paid. The sooner your page is populated, the sooner website visitors will see your work.
What are the fees?
An entry fee must be paid to become a Perthshire Open Studios member and join the open studio event and exhibitions; the Join Us page provides full details. Entry fees must be paid in full by 31 March.
Refunds: Are answered below. Click here for full details.
Where can I exhibit?
As an Open Studios event, the most interesting place for visitors to visit is your own studio or workspace. We know from visitor feedback they value seeing artists in their own working spaces. It offers them a peak behind usually closed doors, insights into your creative practice and also a chance for you to share your inspiration and techniques.
If that is not an option, Perthshire Open Studios members can share a space or combine into a single venue for the Open Studio event. As Open Studios is all about engaging with visitors and bringing them into your creative process, please try to find a venue which will allow you to do demonstrations and/or allow visitors to ‘have a go’.
Simply having a table displaying your products, is not in keeping with the Perthshire Open Studios ethos so please talk to any potential venues about what might be possible – most are surprisingly flexible!
If you have problems finding somewhere suitable, our Open Studios team can help to connect artists with studio spaces. However, they cannot be held responsible for a member’s studio or venue.
Do I have to be open during the whole event?
The Open Studios event runs for 9 days in September. Artists set their own opening dates and times during the sign-up process. These are published in the brochure and on the website; you must make every effort to be present in your studio or venue at those times, even if you are participating as part of a group.
Can commercial galleries and shops join Open Studios?
Commercial Galleries and shops, especially those including workshops, can join Open Studios which is all about engaging visitors in the creative process, so we do ask that potential venues work with artists and makers to agree what is possible by way of demonstrations and to help ensure that artists are present throughout any advertised open hours in the brochure and on the website.
How is my uploaded image going to be used?
When you supply images for entry into the brochure and onto the website, you are agreeing to it being used in any publicity.
I am having trouble applying on the website, what do I do?
Our website should work on a mobile phone, but we advise that you apply on a computer screen if you can.
If you are experiencing problems or have any concerns, we are here to help. You can contact our central team or the route co-ordinators (we’re currently recruiting these voluntary roles but they will be published online once appointed) who will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours. We can provide a different application format if requested.
What does my commitment involve?
- All members will be subject to the Articles of Association on joining and will accept the Conditions of Entry and Code of Conduct that Perthshire Open Studios has adopted.
Members agree to open their studios or venues to the public on the published dates and times, according to accepted rules. - All work exhibited during Open Studios must be of an original design or pattern and created by the member from concept to final work. No exhibited items may be sourced from third parties.
- Members are responsible for their online Open Studios listing application content and must ensure all details are correct at the time of submission and finally during proofing.
- No further amendments can be made after proofing. Perthshire Open Studios cannot take responsibility for the content of a member’s submissions.
- Members must be present in their studio space or hired venue to speak to visitors about their work during their published Open Studio hours.
- Members must help with distribution of publicity material; primarily their allocation of the Open Studios brochure (every member is assigned several copies to distribute to the public).
- Members are expected to promote their own studio or venue through their contacts and networks. Reliance must not be placed solely on Perthshire Open Studios central marketing.
- Members are responsible for the management of and public access to their studio space or hired venue.
- Members must be realistic about their opening times so they are able to be present. The public will expect the studios and venues to be accessible at the times advertised and published in the Perthshire Open Studios Brochure.
- An important and integral aspect of Open Studios is the distribution of the Brochure. Members will receive brochures to distribute and route co-ordinators will be assigned additional brochures for distribution to specific locations with the members assistance. We rely on each member having local knowledge of their area and to take responsibility for distributing brochures allocated to them as part of their self-promotion for their studio during Open Studios. (Brochures hiding in boxes or stacked in studios are not promoting the event!)
- Members should be fully aware that Perthshire Open Studios cannot take responsibility for their studio or venue, their local publicity or the content of their online statements.
Members are responsible for their own Public Liability Insurance. This is included in the Membership Fee of some Artists Organisations but the central team can advise if needed. A good place to start is a-n The Artists Information Company or the Scottish Artists Union.
Where can I complain about something pertaining to Perthshire Open Studios?
We hope you won’t have to, but any complaints received by us will be addressed within the scope of Perthshire Open Studios rules and procedures. Please use our contact form and title your message: Complaint.
When can brochures be distributed?
We want to create a buzz before the event and releasing the brochures at least six weeks before is the optimum timing. We have listened to our members feedback and as a result we will have brochures available for the opening of the Summer Show, 26 June. The timeline from the closing date for completion of the listing, 30 April, has been arranged to enable collection of the printed brochures after proofing.
How do I get the Perthshire Open Studios logo?
You’ll be able to access all our media in the members area, accessed through the login button at the top-right of every page on this site once your membership fees have been processed. (The page is available to members only and part of the initial login screen)
How do I publicise my studio locally?
Perthshire Open Studios is a volunteer group of artists and makers from the area. Members are expected to help with tasks such as distributing the brochure in your local area and putting up/taking down posters. We believe – and rely on – local publicity being carried out by participants in their local area. In conjunction with the website and the brochure, it’s our main method of promotion. Try contacting a local newspaper with an interesting angle on your event. Newspapers are more likely to do a story if it has a local angle. As a local, you will know the best B&Bs, hotels, surgeries, vets, shops, dentists etc to offer copies of the brochure or to place a poster. Friends and family on Facebook would no doubt be delighted to ‘share and like’ a series of posts. We are @perthshireopenstudios on Facebook and Instagram. Join in! We need the advocacy and promotion from every participant if we are to become embedded in the public’s mind as one of the best ways to experience art and craft in Perthshire. Don’t forget, Perthshire Open Studios isn’t just in September; the brochure and website ensure a comprehensive and professional arts listings available year around. Artists can open studios during the rest of the year when contacted so hang onto the brochure and give them out even after the event if you have any.
What happens if I want to withdraw my entry to Perthshire Open Studios?
If you would like to withdraw your Open Studios Entry, we will refund your entry fee minus a £30 admin fee up to and including 30 April. If you withdraw your Open Studios Entry after this, you will not be eligible for a refund and your entry may still be included in the brochure.
Is there a limit on how many people can share a venue?
There is no limit of artists, makers and creatives sharing a venue. It should be stressed that Perthshire Open Studios is an open studio event (rather than a craft fayre or exhibition) therefore the most important requirement is that all artists and makers have sufficient space, and permission, to demonstrate their activity and to engage with visitors.
Visitors
Is entry to Perthshire Open Studios free of charge?
Yes, absolutely free. And you might even be offered a tea or coffee and a cake!
Does Perthshire Open Studios charge its Members a commission on sales?
No. We take no commission on open studio sales, unlike many other organisations which represent artists. So, you can be 100% confident the money you pay will go to the creator of the work. Our exhibitions do attract a commission on sales either to the gallery space or nominally to cover the exhibition costs.
What if I can’t get to a studio during Perthshire Open Studios?
Our website is open 24x7x365 days a year and our Members are encouraged to keep their page up-to-date, so there’s always new work to see. You can contact them direct to make a mutually convenient appointment. And not forgetting social media – you can follow nearly all our Members on Facebook or Instagram.
Can I buy from a member before the start of Perthshire Open Studios?
It’s up to each individual artist, but in principle, yes, you can buy at any time and their web page is open all year round. A Member may wish to keep back the work that’s featured in our brochure so visitors can see it in real life. Just contact them and ask.
Where can I collect a brochure?
Our brochures are available at venues throughout Perthshire, in 2026 we’ll also be distributing leaflets with a QR code through the professional distribution network. You can collect brochures at either of our artists exhibitions, the Summer Show or our Showcase.
How can figure out which venues to visit?
On our Visit Us page on the website you can search by;
coloured route, there are seven routes which break down the Perthshire geographic area into smaller areas, Green – Comrie to Crieff, Red – Aberfeldy to Pitlochry, etc
named artists
venue name
media type, painting, ceramics, glass, wood, etc