Brighton Festival Ditchling Open Houses

Brighton Festival Ditchling Open Houses: Over four weekends in May, artists open their doors to offer work from over 1,200 artists, exhibiting in more than 180 venues across the city of Brighton, Hove and beyond.

The Open Houses are grouped in local trails, each with their own unique character, from the fishermen’s houses of Hanover, Regency houses of Brunswick, to the urban warehouse spaces of the North Laine and cottages of the South Downs village of Ditchling.

Visiting Open Houses offers the chance to meet the artists and to buy work directly from them. The hugely diverse range of artwork on show includes original paintings, prints, graffiti arts, ceramics and textiles, as well as photography, sculpture, crafts, jewellery and many other media.

The Artists Open Houses is an inclusive open-to-all event, welcoming participation from all areas of the community, including community groups, marginalised, school and college student artists.

Artists Open Houses in Ditchling

Ditchling Village is in the South Downs National Park. Art in Ditchling is a group of local artists who participate in Brighton Artists Open Houses during The Brighton Festival. The Art in Ditchling Trail showcases a range of high quality art, design and craft in houses, studios and workshops. Make a day of it to meet the artists and makers, explore the historic village as well as Ditchling Museum of Art+Craft. As a distraction from the Trail there are a number of pubs and cafes offering delicious refreshments.

A number of venues will be open on both Bank Holidays in May. Please check the individual houses pages for details.

Ditchling has a rich artistic heritage shown in Ditchlings award winning Museum of Art asnd Craft which includes Eric Gill, Sir Frank Brangwyn and The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic; family members continue these traditions in some venues today.

Pruden and Smith are participating in the Brighton Festival Ditchling Open Houses as part of the Art in Ditchling Trail. Thery are designers and craftsmen in precious metals whose passion for contemporary design shows in everything they do. Their gallery and new display area within, their adjoining workshops, on Ditchling Crossroads showcases their work in gold, platinum, and silver incorporating diamonds and unusual gemstones from all over the world. This year look out for new designs featuring 2000 year old Roman glass from Afghanistan. They offer a complete design-to-make service for any item in precious metal from engagement rings to chalices. They can also incorporate or redesign your existing jewellery in a process they call ‘A Precious Legacy’.

DesignerRebecca Smith takes inspiration and materials from your existing jewellery collection to generate designs for new pieces. It ensures that your jewellery is out of your jewellery box and worn whilst maintaining the sentimental connection to past pieces. Many of the designs on display are to generate ideas for this process.

During the festival take a tour of their workshops of 30 years, then follow with a look at their history by visiting Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, which features the work and tools of Anton Pruden’s grandfather, Dunstan, silversmith on The Guild of St Joseph and St. Dominic.

Visit Art in Ditchlings Trail During the Brighton Festival Ditchling Open Houses

Call in at Pruden and Smith to pick up your copy of the brochure for all events.