Crouch End Open Studios is a voluntary organisation of artists, founded in 2005.
1. CEOS encourages an appreciation of the Visual Arts and to build a diverse and informed local audience in North London.
2. CEOS is an artist-led group and aims to support the professional creative development of CEOS artists in a diverse range of media.
3. CEOS maintains the quality and diversity of work shown by advertising its exhibiting opportunities to artists and by a formal selection process of new artist members.
4. CEOS aims to encourage peer review/mutual mentoring amongst members and the development of curatorial skills.
Artists apply to join CEOS (times vary depending on the timing of the CEOS weekend) and are selected by a selection committee on the basis described in the Selection Policy. Thereafter, artists must become CEOS members in order to participate in the event. The membership is renewed by annual subscription. If membership lapses for more than three years, a renewing member must apply for re-selection.
Annual membership fees £120
The Organising Committee is the governing body of CEOS, a team of artists who have volunteered for various roles over the years. This is ever evolving and any interested artist can volunteer to join. The Committee meets monthly and decides on all matters of policy.
The Committee organises an annual artist selection process including asking for volunteers to sit on the selection committee, and setting of the annual calendar of events.
The Organising Committee oversees the budget and two or three organisers act as signatories for the CEOS bank account.
Chair/Secretary, Treasurer, representation from the following Teams:
Communication Events Members Online
Print Sponsorship & community involvement
In the preparation and the run-up to the event, all participating artists are expected to invest a minimum of 20 hours as part of one of the Teams. Artists are also expected to publicise their own venue and the wider CEOS event through their own social media
CEOS holds three meetings annually for all members; one is a social following the selection process – an opportunity to meet our new artists and to set out expectations for the year ahead. The second is an opportunity to collect leaflets & door-to-door area allocations, raffle tickets, etc, sign up for Group Show invigilating rotas, and on-street leaflet distribution. The third is a Feedback meeting following the Open Studios weekend.
The Open Studios are held over a single weekend each year. Timing may vary depending on a range of circumstances. To participate, Members must show a high proportion of new work, and it must be presented in a professional manner. Each artist is expected to be present at their exhibition venue over the CEOS weekend, distribute leaflets to a defined area a few weeks beforehand, participate in on-street leafleting and share in the invigilating of the group exhibition. All CEOS artists are expected to collect and return to CEOS the email addresses of their visitors over the CEOS weekend.
Under no circumstances should CEOS artists allow any artists, other than CEOS selected artists, to show at their venue during the Open Studios weekend
Members of the Organising Committee commit substantial amounts of time and may be awarded reasonable expenses.
CEOS does not expect to make a profit as an organisation. After payment for goods and services, any money remaining at the end of the year will normally be ploughed into the next year’s activity. If there is no activity for a year or more and the organization is wound up, the assets will be given to an arts fund agreed by the Organising Committee.