Information for Artists applying for Membership of the Fiveways Artists Group

The Fiveways Artists Group pioneered by Ned Hoskins in 1981 was established to promote a beneficial link between artists and their local community by opening their houses to allow the public to view artwork and meet the artist in a relaxed domestic atmosphere. Artists Open Houses have now grown to become a major feature of local and national creative arts.

The benefits of joining the Fiveways Artists Group include not only being part of a well established and popular Art Trail but also in becoming involved in a socially active artist’s community. We organise various additional exhibitions throughout the year including group shows abroad. The group’s website www.fivewaysartists.com enables members to sell online, update their diary and gallery contents and post items of relevant news. Members are also invited to and participate in our Private View parties and gain extra publicity with inclusion in our Group’s brochure and promotional advertising. Our Public Liability insurance also covers members during the May and Christmas Open Houses festivals.

The group is open for membership from any artist living in our area who opens his or her house during the Brighton May Festival. The main requirements being as follows:

• Members normally open their houses to the public from 11am-5pm for the first four weekends during in May and sometimes at Christmas.
• Members should conduct themselves in a professional manner and provide a well presented exhibition.
• Members should comply with the Fiveways Artists Group constitution and be an active artist.
• Members should support the aims of the group.
• Members are encouraged to play an active role in assisting the running the group.

Opening your house to the public is a significant commitment involving hard work and disruption to family life and so prospective new members are normally expected to open their house for the first year as an independent artist. You can register your open house with the Independent Trail Rep at the AOH: www.aoh.org.uk Registration for the AOH May festival opens in early January and closes in mid February.

Applying for membership involves inviting a member of the Fiveways Group to view your independent open house exhibition in the May Festival to review the organisation and presentation of your show. Your application will then be considered at the next available group meeting and once accepted the new member will be invited to the AGM in September/October and be encouraged to play an active role in the group.

An Application Form is attached below; please use this to make your initial application for a group member to visit your independent open house exhibition in May. This can be sent to us as soon as you decide to open as an independent house but preferably before the end of April. Please fill in this form and either email or post it to the contacts below or send a letter containing the information we need. The group’s New Members contacts are;

David Williams (Secretary Fiveways Artists Group)
01273 385168 davidjohnwilliams@ntlworld.com 8 Southdown Avenue Brighton BN1 6EG

Angela Harrison (New Member's Coordinator)
01273 887591 atharrison@ntlworld.com 358 Ditchling Road Brighton BN1 6JG

Mark Findlay (New Member's Contact)
01273 540288 mark.h.b.findlay@googlemail.com 23 Cornwall Gardens BN1 6RH

Subscriptions for joining the Fiveways Artists Group are; a one-off fee of £100 (which can be paid in instalments) in the first year of membership which gives inclusion on the Fiveways Artists Group web site, facility to upload profiles and images, listing for members and their guest artists, news and diary events and online sales. In the following years the fee will be £25 per year. This annual subscription charge contributes to the Groups expenses including Public Liability Insurance, publicity, promotional material, brochures, leaflets and the Launch Party etc. We also depend on the support of sponsors.

Please do not hesitate to contact the secretary if you need any further information or help in any way.

 

Application Form	Membership of the Fiveways Artists Group
Name of applicant:
Address:
Contact number:
Email address:
Independent Trail number and house name:
If opened before please give dates:
Name of group member if prior contact has been made:
What could you offer to the running of the group? Particular skills, contacts or facilities, organising exhibitions, helping with administration, sponsorship, graphic design, publicity, etc.
Personal statement (Inc. your media, past exhibitions, experience etc.)
Date
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