Open Source is a visual arts festival where Connecticut artists invite us into their studios or temporary spaces to share their creative process and network with other area arts professionals. 

Artspace New Haven’s 2022 Open Source Art Festival gathers artists, curators, cultural producers, organizers, and audiences across the city of New Haven to convene around shared artistic processes and experimentation. The newly-imagined fall 2022 iteration, In Common Spaces, takes its title from the idea of Artspace as a shared space for the visual arts to include the collective experience of communion in spaces beyond our gallery walls. We acknowledge that this feeling of communion is challenged by red-lining, racism, xenophobia, and COVID-19.

In keeping with the New Haven Municipal Cultural Equity Plan, the festival hopes to ignite city-wide joy, curiosity, and questioning within New Haven’s artistic communities. In Common Spaces is an opening of studio practices as the festival has done for forty years, a new convening of exhibitions in our neighborhoods to broaden access to Open Source for all, and a reflection on New Haven’s desires to assemble around artistic experimentation and support through programming.

Open Source Art Festival is free and open to the public. 

All Connecticut Visual Artists

Open Source is open to all visual artists working in Connecticut.

Artist Groups and Special Programs

Artspace welcomes groups who are pursuing the visual arts as part of a collective, social, educational, or community program. If your group has a space used to make art in your neighborhood, it may be opened up to the public as part of the Private Studios or All Digital Weekend.

Art Students

College and graduate students are welcome to register as an Open Source artist or participate as part of a group. Ask your art department if your school would like to participate in an Open Studios weekend.

Non-Profit Arts Organizations

Artspace welcomes other non-profit arts organizations to register for Open Source. You are also welcome to host a special exhibition during Open Source in October.

Commercial Galleries

Please email opensource@artspacenh.org to find out how your gallery can be a part of Open Source.

 

Registration for artists and organizations continues through August 15th. If you’re an artist, collective or organization interested in participating, registration will reopen soon. If you have questions, please email us at opensource@artspacenh.org. 

The registration fee is $50 and covers your participation for the duration of the festival. The Artspace New Haven website will highlight each participating artist, gallery, non-profit or collective in our promotional material and include images online of up to 10 works of art, contact information and a link to your website.

Registration for The 2022 Open Source Festival has now ended.

2022 Open Source Art Festival

Artist Benefits

  • Participation in the Open Source website Oct 19-30.
  • Studio visit hosting, online or in-person. All in-person studio visits should be held with all participants wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Inclusion of your work, statement, and website link on our Open Source website.
  • Promotion of your work on our Open Source online and through our social media networks.
  • Inclusion in all printed materials.

The Details

  • Cost to participate in each weekend
    • $50 
  • What do we get?
    • Your artist page can include your name, artist/organization statement, 10 images of artwork, contact information, and a link to your own website to learn more about you and your practice. 
  • Who can participate
    • Artists must have residential or studio addresses within the state of Connecticut. Organizations or galleries must operate in the state of Connecticut. 
  • How do we get in touch with someone if we have a question?
    • opensource@artspacenh.org

Who Can Participate in Open Source?

All Connecticut Visual Artists

Open Source is open to all visual artists working in Connecticut.

Artist Groups and Special Programs

Artspace welcomes groups who are pursuing the visual arts as part of a collective, social, educational, or community program. If your group has a space used to make art in your neighborhood, it may be opened up to the public as part of the festival. Curators, organizers and collectives may also apply to our Neighborhood Platfrom open call. Curator-organizers may develop and present the work of local artists in sites across Westville, The Hill, Newhallville, Dixwell, Fair Haven, and East Rock. Proposals from curator-organizers and/or collectives will be carried out in dialogue with neighborhood representatives and Artspace staff. These platforms will supplement, and not replace other Open Source happenings (open studios and programming) and will be open every day of the festival. 

Art Students

College and graduate students are welcome to register as an Open Source artist or participate as part of a group. Ask your art department if your school would like to participate in an Open Studios weekend.

Non-Profit Arts Organizations and Commercial Galleries

Artspace welcomes other non-profit arts organizations to register for Open Source. You are also welcome to host a special exhibition during Open Source in October.

In light of public health recommendations from the CDC and our own efforts to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19, all visitors to Open Source in public settings should wear face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others by providing an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people. Face coverings can be made from household items.  All visitors should wear face coverings unless doing so would be contrary to their health or safety because of a medical condition.  Any child under the age of 2 years, or an older child if the responsible adult is unable to place the face-covering over the child’s face, is not required to wear a face covering.  It is also important for everyone to practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people) at all times. 

Important Dates for Artists

Deadline for Registration: August 15 at 

Festival Dates: October 21-30

  • Oct 22-23 – East and Downtown (including Erector Square, Marlin Works, and Private Studios in East Rock, Fair Haven, and The Hill.)
  • Oct 29-30 West (including West River Arts, and Private Studios in Westville, Dixwell, and Newhallville.) and Haven Studios

Questions?

Please email opensource@artspacenh.org

Registration

Visit our Registration Page between June 15 and August 15  to register.

General

  • What is Open Source?
    • Open Source is a month-long festival during which Connecticut artists open their studio doors or temporary spaces to meet audiences, share their creative process, and network with area arts professionals. Artspace will provide free maps and festival guides online and at studio sites. We encourage audiences to come to The Spot (Carriage House, 44 Crown Street) and plan their studio visit routes and stops.
    • Artist registration allows access to Artspace’s artist website 24/7 between October 19-30, 2022. Artists are encouraged to host studio visits, online or in-person, at any time during the month of October. 
  • What’s new in 2022?
    • Open Source takes place October 21-30, 2022.
    • Registration fee is $50.
    • Neighborhood Platforms! Curator-organizers will develop and present the work of local artists in sites across Westville, The Hill, Newhallville & Dixwell, Fair Haven, and East Rock. Proposals from curator-organizers and/or collectives will be carried out in dialogue with neighborhood representatives and Artspace staff. These platforms will supplement, not replace, other Open Source happenings (open studios and programming) and will be open every day of the festival.
    • There is no commission or fee due to Artspace for sales made during the Open Source festival. Should you choose, we will happily accept your donation of a portion of your sale to help us cover the cost of the festival. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
    • In light of public health recommendations from the CDC and our own efforts to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19, all visitors to Open Source in public settings should wear face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Visitors to 1:1 in-person studios visits should also wear face coverings. Face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others by providing an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people. Face coverings can be made from household items.  All visitors should wear face coverings unless doing so would be contrary to their health or safety because of a medical condition.  Any child under the age of 2 years, or an older child if the responsible adult is unable to place the face covering over the child’s face, is not required to wear a face covering.  It is also important for everyone to practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people) at all times. 
  • This is my first time participating. Help!
    • Welcome! We are thrilled to invite you to join the Open Source family—there is no better way to become immersed in New Haven’s visual arts scene and gain exposure for your work and your ideas.  While our festival may feel overwhelming at first, we encourage you to join in. Artspace staff are here to help you! All first-time artists are strongly encouraged to attend the special How to Open Source workshop on Wednesday, Sept 21 at 4pm. You will meet key staff who will provide you with tips and suggestions for everything from artist statements, pricing your work, or what to bring to your pop-up space. Bring your questions! If you are unable to attend, we will also make a recorded webinar available, but you will not have the benefit of live Q&A. Registration encouraged. Artspace staff are on hand to help suggest ways to make the most of the experience. Email us at opensource@artspacenh.org at any time and we will respond as soon as possible.

Registration

  • How do I register?
    • We are accepting registration from June 15  through August 15. After you submit your info and make a payment you will be redirected to a form with further instructions for submitting your information and images to our website. Registration for the 2022 Open Source Festival has ended
  • In what format/size should my images be?
    • After you register you will receive an email with a link where you can upload your images and detailed descriptions of your work that will be used. The images must be in JPG format. Please make each image no smaller than 2000 x 2000 and no larger than 6000 pixels X 6000 pixels. The ideal width is 2000 pixels at 72 dpi.
  • I live outside of CT. Can I participate in Open Source?
    • No, the event is for artists who live and work in Connecticut.  We hope you will submit your work to Artspace for a different call for artists in the future.
  •  I run an organization in the New Haven area that shows work by contemporary local artists. May I register my location?
    • Yes. You will register as a Gallery/Non-Profit and pay the standard registration fee of $50. We suggest each artist showing in your space registers individually, as then they can be found more easily in our directory. Please email opensource@artspacenh.org to discuss your specific situation and how best to handle billing and registration if you have questions.
  • Can I get one-on-one help completing my registration and/or Artist Profile?
    •  Yes. Email opensource@artspacenh.org to set up a time.
  • Is completing my Artist Profile required?
    • Yes.  Completing your Artist Profile promptly after you receive the link ensures that you receive the full value of the promotion that Artspace offers to participating artists.

Opening your studio & exhibiting your work

  • In which weekend should I participate?
    • East and Downtown  – including Erector Square, Marlin Works, and Private Studios in East Rock, Fair Haven, and The Hill
    • West – including West River Arts, and Private Studios in Westville, Dixwell, and Newhallville.
  • What does my registration fee include?
    • Inclusion in the Official Map and Guide
    • Inclusion in Artspace’s website and city-wide directory
    • Invitation to Open Source online public programs
  • Can I rent space at Erector Square for the weekend?
    • No, unfortunately, there is no rental space available in Erector Square this year.
  • What happens if I sell my work during Open Source?
    • No commission fee is due for sales made during Open Source. We will happily accept your tax-deductible donation of a portion of your sale to help us cover the costs of the festival. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
  •  I need to pull out after registering. What is the refund policy?
    • Full Refund (less $10 admin fee) through Sept 1, which is a few days before the guide gets designed.
    • 50% Refund between Sept 2 and Sept 19.
    • No refund after Sept 19.
  • How can I help publicize the Open Source Festival and my participation in it?
    • The main way to assist with publicity and promotion is to set up your Artist Profile right away. Only then will you begin getting our press team to work on your behalf, as we point members of the media to the profiled artists. After you register, Artspace will furnish you with a digital invitation for you to distribute. Open Source graphics and social media guides for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be found on the Press Toolkit Page. (coming soon) Our marketing works in tandem with the efforts of our participating artists, so please spread the word via your own social media networks as well!

 

In light of public health recommendations from the CDC and our own efforts to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19, all visitors to Open Source in public settings should wear cloth face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Visitors to 1:1 in-person studios visits should also wear cloth face coverings. Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others by providing an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people. Cloth face coverings can be made from household items.  All visitors should wear cloth face coverings unless doing so would be contrary to their health or safety because of a medical condition.  Any child under the age of 2 years, or an older child if the responsible adult is unable to place the cloth face covering over the child’s face, is not required to wear a cloth face covering.  It is also important for everyone to practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people) at all times.