Biggest AOS all set to go

Ross Fallen and Kelly Scarrow are thrilled with this year's Artists Open Studios. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

This weekend it begins: the long anticipated, well publicised annual Whanganui Artists Open Studios (AOS).
It's an event that draws people from all over the country and one or two from beyond our shores.

With 82 studios open to the public and more than 250 artists participating and exhibiting, it's the biggest ever of its kind in Whanganui. That's with 17 of the regular exhibitors taking a break, but confident in the knowledge that AOS will continue and they can rejoin next year or the year after.

Midweek spoke to Ross Fallen, Artists Open Studios chairman, and Kelly Scarrow, event manager.
"We're in our 18th year and we're so excited," says Kelly.
"Thanks to the wonderful support from Whanganui and Partners," says Ross, "and their manager, Philippa Ivory."
Coincidentally, Philippa's mother is one of the artists.
"We have to tip our hats to AOS because for 18 years they have been striving actively for major, corporate sponsorship … and we can't get it," says Ross. Yet AOS continues to grow and flourish.

Retailers have been quick to show their support by offering to exhibit art works in their windows in a part of AOS called Mainframe.
"Thirty-six businesses have set aside window space for an art work," says Ross. "Some of our artists are really putting themselves out there to have representation or commitment to their work and to the artists' community."
"On the flipside of that they're really excited about having yet another opportunity to show their work," says Kelly. "And it's showing their work in a very different way and engaging with the community … it captures people who wouldn't normally necessarily go to a studio, a gallery, a collective space."

"Nearly every one of our service providers, from the graphics through to the printing of our material, has given us discounts as their way of sponsoring the event, so that kind of support adds up to a significant amount of money that we otherwise could not find and not promote/deliver the event the way we are," says Ross. "That is huge."

While shop fronts are prepared to show art works, other businesses are partnering with the artists themselves.

"The likes of Frank [Bar and Eatery] which has the River City Artists involved, and Pauline Allomes who is going into Halo, the empty building next to Big Orange, in effect she's partnering with Big Orange Café, and we have Ken Graham who is going into Elements Café; Made in the Neighbourhood, the Kiwi Pasifika group of young people who have occupied long term a store in the main street with the aim of being involved with Artists Open Studios, so it's all these unique partnerships, these little stories, and spaces are being provided for people who wouldn't necessarily participate otherwise," says Kelly.

Ross is astounded by the numbers of first time AOS artists taking part and pleased to see the numbers and variety of artists choosing to come to live in Whanganui, who do this partly because of the strong arts community here.
"We're talking about all forms of art and all levels of artistic endeavour, from experimental to international standard," he says.

Ross says the involvement of Castlecliff and the number of participating artists coming out of the rejuvenating suburb is something that has only started to happen in the last couple of years, and he likes the idea that people touring around the studios are meeting artists and also connecting with the town, seeing parts of Whanganui that may not otherwise see.
"By default, we bring huge positivity about our town," he says.
"You can't help but take in the beauty of the city as you move around the studios," says Kelly.

Ross, as chair, is excited with the way AOS is progressing.
"It's on budget, we have great support, and the advertising in the catalogue is significant and increasing, without detracting from the event. We are very proud to be associated with Fine Arts Whanganui: for the first time ever, we have gone out of just doing an event and into partnership promoting young artists coming through, and we're looking at how we can do that again next year."

"It is a real privilege to event manage Artists Open Studios," says Kelly, "And a hell of a responsibility, I get that, but I'm really proud of the work we've done. It's not just me: it's the board, it's the team at Mainstreet Whanganui, but it's also the artists themselves, because they have been quite patient with me and have gone with some of my ideas. I want to reflect what they do, because without the artists there is no event."

"We have got bus groups coming in to Whanganui specifically for AOS," says Ross. "These are private companies and this is something we want to develop further."
Tour groups are coming from Auckland, Wairarapa, Wellington and Queenstown, to name a few.

"We are definitely now the biggest separate gallery art-showing trail in the nation, by far," says Ross.
"Workshops and ticketed events are doing well," says Kelly, "And the vibe; everyone is pumped about it and you can feel the momentum and anticipation."

"AOS, in its strategic planning for the next three years, wants to find ways in which we can — within our limited funding — connect with our artists more than once a year. We're open to ideas," says Ross.