Perthshire Open Studios (POS) has been supporting creatives across Perthshire for almost two decades, organising a nine day open studio event the first week in September each year alongside a showcase exhibition open to all artists taking part in the open studios. In addition we’ve now added our preview exhibiton, our Summer Show, which takes place at the beginning of the Summer.
Getting to know the team
POS is a Community Interest Company intended to support the creatives living in Perthshire. There needs to be a minimum of 2 directors. The Board of Directors currently consists of: Angela Thomson, Louise Ormerod and Louise McLaren.
Angela Thomson
Owner of Artisanand in Aberfeldy since its creation in 2014, after a career in management consultancy and finance across the UK, the Far and Middle East. Angela curates the exhibitions, constantly seeking new artists for her contemporary gallery which has become known for its quirky conceptual pieces in many media. She features established and emerging artists, mainly local, although anyone who fits the ethos is welcome. She also runs a framing service from the gallery. Aware of the challenges facing artists, particularly emerging talent, she works with artists offering advice on opportunities beyond the gallery, sales channels, pricing, digital selling, advertising, etc.
Louise Ormerod
After a career in sales & marketing lasting over 20 years in November 2022, with my husband Ross, I established Craigrossie Printing. Craigrossie Printing specialises in providing a high quality personal service to small businesses and individuals for small scale projects printed at a reasonable cost. We work with artists to achieve the best representations of their work, matching colours, cleaning images, etc. My involvement with Perthshire Open Studios marries up my skills and desire to see artists thrive in a constantly challenging environment.
Louise McLaren
Louise works from Studio 52, her studio-shop in Comrie, Perthshire designing and making cut paper images, prints, cards and more!
Each one of her cut paper images begins life as a hand drawing which fills it with idiosyncrasies and gives it a character that no pixel can replicate, as Margaret Kilgallen said “my hand will always be imperfect because it’s human…….And I think that’s where the beauty is.”
The image is then hand cut; no laser cutters, no die cutting machines, just Louise, her scalpel and a bit of patience.
She hopes that by lovingly handcrafting each one of her designs, she creates an honest, meaningful and soulful piece of work that resonates with everyone. Making them something truly special and unique to be given with love and treasured for a lifetime.
If you’re interested in becoming a director do speak to one of the existing directors to find out what’s involved.
Volunteers – Member Artists
We have identified a number of task based roles for artists who would like to volunteer but need an awareness of how much time it might take. We’re still looking for volunteers for some of the roles and if we want the event to be the success we’d like the more input we have from the artists the better it should be.
We are happy to provide training for anyone who would like to develop their skills by volunteering.
Route co-ordinators
We identified this role and have developed it so that this is the first point of call with any queries within the various routes of the Open Studios event. The types of tasks the co-ordinators can take on is organising the route members, setting up a what’sapp group for quick questions, creating route specific social media, organising brochure collection, organising group drop off and collection for exhibitions to reduce the time spent for all. There could be one or two co-ordinators for each route depending on skills and time available.
Social Media
This year we’ll be administrating our social media accounts ourselves. We will have a promotion plan based on our event diary and we plan to schedule posts and reels at least two weeks in advance leaving a minimum requirement for day to day management. We have one artist volunteer so we’re still looking for additional artists prepared to take this on.
Marketing & Promotion
We’re seeking artists to volunteer who perhaps have experience of creating a marketing campaign, working with media (Papers / magazines), photographers, etc.
We’d like volunteers for specific tasks like identifying landowners who’d be prepared to have a banner on their land for 2-3 weeks.
Artists who might be able to approach businesses about sponsoring routes or advertising with us in the brochure or online.
We are seeking someone to organise the centralisation of distribution of brochures to ensure the distribution is widespread in all of the route areas.
Finally any volunteers who may have experience with graphics to develop the adverts for print, social media and our brochure cover, leaflets and the like.
Organising exhibitions
Artists who already have or would like to develop the organisations skills to run large exhibitions. Volunteers prepared to assist in the hanging of either of the two exhibitions.
Fundraising and book-keeping
Any artists having experience of either of these tasks would be more than welcome to volunteer.
POS Support team
Individuals and companies that help shape what we do.
Clare Bridson
Clare Bridson of 291 Media has been working with us for a number of years. This year their assistance is on the technical side of website and app development.
We are indebted to them for the time they dedicate to ensuring our artists have the tools they need and being aware of their particular requirements.