Site festival 2027
30 years of Site Festival in stroud
Site Festival is an annual programme of artist-led projects from SVA; events, exhibitions, talks and directory of Open Studios in the Stroud District; established in 1997.
If you have art practice in the Stroud District, or would like to base yourselves here for Site Festival, our programme is OPEN to all artists of all backgrounds, ages, disciplines and experience.
We love mixing it up every year, and it's an established and well-known platform for artists to use in any way that suits your practice.
Artwork above : Steve Vanstone
Open Studios 2024 : Charlotte Aiken photographed by Nettie Atkisson
Sva + Site Festival : the beginnings
It's been 30 years since we opened up SVA and created Open Studios, and we're excited to see what artists will bring in this momentous year.
Site Festival and our Open Studios model continues to be a really important part of us as an organisation, supporting and uplifting artists in our local area.
Site Festival has evolved to be :
Varied,
Innovative,
Welcoming,
Spread across the Stroud District,
Open to all.
Site Festival 2016
Open Studios 2018 : Ann-Margreth Bohl by Simon Pizzey
Site Festival is open to all Artists :
Visual and Applied,
Performance and movement,
Literature,
Sound, Installation, Conceptual,
Emerging artists and more.
Siobhan Hapaska : Site Festival 2013
Open Studios 2023 : Nikoletta Monyok
As well as Open Studios, we welcome…
Exhibitions, installations and coinciding events.
Art is rarely one-size-fits-all so get in touch if you have an idea for 2027 or find the Fees page for the different ways to take part.
You can take a look at the Archive of previous years for inspiration and ideas.
Site Festival 2021 : Studio 18, Ronnie McGrath
Darren Almond : Site Festival 2012
Open Studios 2023 : Nikoletta Monyok
open studios 2027
12th & 13th and 19th & 20th June
Image above : visitors at Rory Lawton-Thomas sound installation, photographed by Fran Cox
The Big Art Show at The Sub Rooms 2026, photographed by Fran Cox
Artists say
“I enjoy having it as a deadline, and meeting people. I don’t have my work online so it’s nice to spread the word by meeting people directly. “
“Opening my studio forces me out of my comfort zone, stops me being a hermit.”
“I don’t like having to sweep the floors but it’s good for me, like a medicine.”
Textiles Studio artists, photographed by Nettie Atkisson
Visitors say
“It’s a really important date in my calendar and it’s the best thing that happens in Stroud.”
“I stock up on gifts, and I love poking around people’s houses and studios. You never know what you’re going to find.”
“I Love the routes and getting on my bike in my best frock.”
Wayward Weaves photographed by Nettie Atkisson
Register for open studios 2027
We bring together venues, outdoor spaces, community groups, shops, unused spaces and organisations into a big creative melting pot where people test ideas, build relationships and push boundaries.
Visitors flock to the area just for Site Festival, so we invite you to make the most of it with opening your studio.
We print and distribute around 13,000 copies of our annual directory across the South West and beyond, so within the registration fee artists get an abundance of publicity that would otherwise be a lot to afford and organise.
If you have an idea or venue you'd like to discuss - Email site@sva.org.uk.
Nik Ramage exhibition : Fran Cox