21st Spring Fling - 100 Studios will open their doors to the public

One hundred studios across Dumfries and Galloway will be throwing open their doors for the 21^st Spring Fling. 

Scotland’s leading open studios weekend- this year, from 27 to 29 May - is a superb opportunity to meet wonderfully creative people who live and work in one of Scotland’s most beautiful rural regions. 

All have been specially selected, and include contemporary visual artists of every kind – including painters, illustrators and original printmakers. 

There are also jewellery-makers, potters, willow artists, glass-makers, woodworkers, textile artists and even two blacksmiths. 

Many of the participants will be familiar to regular Spring Fling visitors, but as ever the organisers, Upland CIC, are keen to introduce fresh participants. 

This year there will be 18 new artists and makers such as ceramicist Abbie La Rooy, who will exhibit at the Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries; visual artists Sally Jennings, in Kirkpatrick Durham, Erinclare Scutton from Port Patrick and Katy Quinn from Kirkcudbright. 

Among those returning for 2023 are jewellery-maker Lisa Rothwell-Young in Langholm; potter Sam Sparrow from Thornhill; furniture-maker Ian Cameron Smith in Kirkcudbright, photographer Kim Ayres at Castle Douglas and visual artists such as Lisa Hooper in Port William and Joanna Shennan in Dumfries.

Joanna Jones, Upland Assistant Director, said: “Artists and makers from all across the region have shown huge enthusiasm for taking part in this year’s Spring Fling – and we’re delighted that visitors will have the chance to visit and enjoy a choice of 100 studios. 

“As ever the open studios weekend will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the art and craft of one of Scotland’s most vibrant creative communities and spend time in a spectacularly beautiful rural region.

“The fact that this year will be the 21^st Spring Fling shows just what a successful and popular event it has become, attracting large numbers of visitors from all over Scotland, the rest of the UK and overseas.” 

Spring Fling plays an important role in supporting artists and makers who are often working in remote areas – and also in contributing to the region’s economy. 

Since its conception, Spring Fling has attracted around 169,000 visitors, between them making over 500,000 studio visits. 

In 20 years over £9.9 million has been spent in the studios and the event has brought over £16 million for the region’s economy. 

Visitors will be able to follow six colour-coded routes taking them round studios in different parts of the region. Some studios will have special evening openings and there will be other attractions like walking and bus tours, and there will be pop-up demonstrations around the region in the lead up to the event.

• For the full list of participating studios visit www.spring-fling.co.uk

• Brochures can be ordered from the Spring Fling website and will be available in April.

• This year the organisers have been acutely aware that the ongoing financial crisis has affected many artists and makers, creating for many a barrier to taking part in such events. Upland has increased its financial support by offering more bursaries for participation and by launching a brand new scheme CREATE with the support of the Barfil Trust. CREATE not only offers free participation in the event but is a platform for experimental installation work that might not fit in a conventionla open studio setting.