Spike Island's Annual Open Studios returns to showcase Bristol's creative community

Spike Island is pleased to announce the dates for Open Studios 2025, offering free behind-the-scenes access to its 80,000-square-foot arts space over a vibrant weekend of exhibitions and events. The hugely popular annual event will take place from 2–4 May 2025. Fans of art, culture and design are invited to explore the sprawling former tea-packing factory turned arts centre and participate in a 3-day programme of workshops, performances, exhibitions, film screenings, family-friendly events and demonstrations.

Founded by artists in the 1970s, Spike Island is now home to an expansive ecosystem of artists’ studios, galleries and creative businesses, as well as UWE Bristol’s Fine Arts programmes and the award-winning Spike Print Studio, the largest open-access print studio in the South West. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to access all areas, immerse themselves in a community of over 70 studio artists, get inspired in creative workshops, meet local creative businesses, and get exclusive insights into how contemporary art is produced. Programme highlights include zine-making workshops and live postcard-printing with Spike Print Studio; installations by Spike Island studio artists Jo Lathwood, Bo Lanyon and Bea Kayani; film screenings by Spike Island Associates Leeza Awojobi and Heather Marks; and the new virtual exhibition commission, are only partly real by artists Steve Dutton and Michelle Marie Forrest.

You will also be able to see current gallery exhibitions, Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure by Dan Guthrie and by Danielle Dean, before they close on Sunday 11 May 2025. Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure This Could All Be Yours! We Are Only Partly Real Beloved Bristolian street-food vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend to fuel your Open Studios visit, including St. Paul’s staple Jikoni East Africa, Sri Lankan dishes from Ceylon & Beyond, and handmade hot dogs from Bedminster-based Jazweiners. To wash it all down, Left Handed Giant will be serving an exclusive Spike Island collaboration beer, featuring artwork by Spike Island studio holder Myrna Quiñonez.

As always, Spike Island’s ever-popular on-site café Emmeline will offer a selection of colourful salads, their famous mega toasties, tasty cocktails and coffees all weekend. With so many discoveries to be made and surprises around each corner, Spike Island Open Studios is an unmissable opportunity to join, celebrate and support the best of Bristol’s renowned art scene.