Arts Richond Art House Open Studio 2026
Art House Open Studios Festival Returns to Richmond upon Thames for 2026
Independent local charity Arts Richmond is once again coordinating the Art House Open Studios festival for 2026, when the borough’s creative community open their studios and homes to members of the public.
The festival gives visitors a chance to engage directly with artists, designers & makers from all corners of the borough.
This year the festival will include the spring bank holiday weekend, taking place over 23rd, 24th & 25th May, plus 30th & 31st May.
Hilary Dodman, Chair of the Arts Richmond Visual Art Committtee, says: “As a small charity supporting a huge range of arts and culture across the borough, we are immensely proud to be able to run this festival for another year.
This is an inclusive event which gives local people as well as visitors from further afield a chance to connect with artists themselves to browse, chat and explore.
At a time of arts being underfunded in education, the festival showcases the work of the great diversity of artists working in the borough and is an inspirational opportunity to open a dialogue between artists and residents.”
Free to access, venues will be open 11am - 5pm daily, and several will offer additional demonstrations and other special events; full details will be available via the Arts Richmond website, and hard-copy brochures with details of all venues will be available from local libraries and arts venues from mid-April.
For more information head to www.ArtsRichmond.org.uk/art-house-open-studios
Arts Richmonds New Plays Competition 2026
Arts Richmond Artist of the Year Competition 2026
Arts Richmond Artist of the Year Competition, 20th June 2026 at Ham House, Ham Street, Richmond Surrey TW10 7RS
Arts Richmond has been invited to hold the Artist of the Year 2026 Competition in the National Trust’s magnificent 17th century Ham House and its grounds on the banks of the Thames, and we hope our artists will enjoy this generous gesture.’
Timetable:
10am - artists arrive at the main gate of Ham House for registration. If you are a NT member please bring your pass with you to show at the gate (visitor numbers registered help Ham House financially), but don't worry if you are not a member, just give them your name and tell them you are taking part.
Arts Richmond's registration desk will be next to the ticket office, so entry will be smooth. We will provide something for you to display which will identify you as an Arts Richmond member, and we hope to have enough volunteers and signage to direct you around the house and grounds throughout the day.
10.30am - there will be a briefing and a short talk given by a Ham House representative.
11am - free to take your positions and start work.
2.45pm - completed artworks to be delivered to the Servants' Dining Hall for judging.
3pm - judging by a Ham House representative begins.
3.45pm - Announcement of winner and presentation in the magnificent Great Hall. There will be one winner.
Useful to know:
The café (with very good cakes) and toilets are open all day.
Important:
You are free to choose to work either in the house or in the garden, but please note that within the house, you may only use a pencil. In the basement, you may be able to use watercolour paint, but not oils. There are no restrictions on the type of media in the gardens.
If you wish to work inside the house please bring a stool and an easel which has rubber feet. Ham House has some mats they can provide for the protection of the floor, but it will be safer if your equipment does not cause any damage.
Getting there:
Vehicles can drop participants and equipment off outside the main gate.
There is a free public car park outside the grounds and free parking on Ham Street and Riverside Drive, if available.
Blue Badge holders may park just inside the main entrance - the space must be pre-booked online on the Ham House website.
Nos. 65 and 371 buses run along the Petersham Road - from Richmond, the stop is Sudbrook Lane, and from Kingston it is The Fox and Duck pub, approximately a 10-minute walk.
Arts Richmond’s £5 entry fee to take part.
Arts Richmonds New Plays Competition 2026
Arts Richmond New Plays Competition is back for 2026
The New Plays Festival will be a celebration of original playwriting for the stage, with the shortlisted finalists being performed live, and the ‘winner’ selected on Sunday, 18th October at The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond
The deadline for submissions is Friday, 17th July.
Terms and Conditions
1. The play must be original, unpublished, and previously unperformed.
2. The play must be no. longer than 20 minutes, maximum performance time.
3. The play must be suitable to be performed in the round, require a minimal set and a maximum of 12 performers.
Deadlines: Friday, 17th July.
Please register your submission by paying £10.00 via the Blue button below.
and then send by email, your anonymised script as an attachment to info@artsrichmond.org.uk
Registration and scripts must be submitted by 17th July 2026.
A shortlist of 4 finalists, chosen by an experienced panel, will be invited to perform their work at the Orange Tree Theatre in October 2026. Finalists will be notified by 31st AugustJuly 2026 at the latest.
Those submissions shortlisted as finalists will be brought to life by directors and actors from local groups, but the writer doesn’t necessarily need to source their own creative team. If they can, great, but it’s not a requirement.