The dates for 2024 are 7th – 15th September 2024.  

Membership of North East Open Studios (NEOS) is open to artists, makers and craftspeople whose main residence and practice is within the North East of Scotland geographic area shown below and defined as north of a line drawn from Montrose to Inverness.

Artists outwith the area cannot participate in NEOS unless they are sponsored by another NEOS member and they can demonstrate a connection with the NEOS area. This form must be completed and submitted for approval by the NEOS committee. (Save it to your computer where it can be filled in interactively, or printed out, scanned and saved for returning by email. Details are on the form.)

Please note there is an earlier closing date for these applications.

This website is open for sign-up from the 1st to 31st March each year. Please note if you are an out-of-area applicant then both your online application and application form needs to be completed by 14th March. (Unfortunately, due to printing and website deadlines, no entries can be accepted outwith these dates.)

Conditions of entry are available here.

An entry fee must be paid to become a NEOS member and join the annual event; the Membership Fees page provides details. Entry fees must be paid in full within the sign-up period. Refunds: Please see the FAQ no’17 for full details.

The most interesting place for visitors is your own studio or workspace. If that is not an option, NEOS members can share a space or combine into a single venue for the Open Studio event. As NEOS is all about engaging with visitors and bringing them in to your creative process, please try to find a venue which will allow you to do demonstrations and/or allow visitors to ‘have a go’. Simply having a table displaying your products, is not really in keeping with the NEOS ethos so please talk to any potential venues about what might be possible – most are surprisingly flexible!  If you have problems finding somewhere suitable, the NEOS committee can help to connect artists with studio spaces. However, they cannot be held responsible for a member’s studio or venue.

The NEOS event runs for 9 days in September. The number of days you open your doors is entirely your choice but you must be open for at least 2 days during that time. Your opening dates and times will be published in the book and on the website; you must make every effort to be present in your studio or venue at those times.

Unfortunately, commercial Galleries and shops cannot join NEOS – but we understand that some people cannot exhibit in their own studios therefore Galleries/shops can host and promote individual NEOS artists, makers and craftspeople who have paid their appropriate NEOS membership fees and live within the NEOS area. However as NEOS is all about engaging visitors in the creative process, we do ask that potential venues work with our artists and makers to agree what is possible by way of demonstrations and to help ensure that artists are present throughout their advertised open hours in the NEOS book/app and website.

When a participant supplies an image for entry into the NEOS Book, they are agreeing to it being used in any NEOS publicity.

Our website should work on a mobile phone, but we advise that you apply on a computer screen if you can. If you are experiencing problems or have any concerns, you can contact our co-ordinator who will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours.

NEOS operates on a first come, first served basis. There is no application process as such  but you must pay the NEOS fee before the closing date. Once your fee is paid, you will receive notification, by email, of your membership number which is confirmation that you have been accepted.  You will be notified if/when we have reached our 300 member limit and placed on a waiting list (no money will be taken if we have reached the limit).

• All members will be subject to the NEOS Constitution on joining and will accept the regulations and codes of conduct that NEOS has adopted.
• Members agree to open their studios or venues to the public on the published dates and times, according to commonly accepted rules.
• All work exhibited during NEOS must be of an original design or pattern and created by the NEOS member from concept to final work. No exhibited items may be sourced from third parties.
• Members are responsible for their online NEOS application content and must ensure all details are correct at the time of submission. No further amendments can be made after online acceptance. NEOS cannot take responsibility for the content of a member’s online statement.
• Members must be present in their studio space or hired venue to speak to visitors about their work during the published Open Studio hours
• Members must help with distribution of publicity material; primarily their allocation of the annual NEOS Book (every member is assigned several copies to distribute to the public). – see below
• Members are expected to promote their own studio or venue through their contacts and networks. Reliance must not be placed solely on NEOS central marketing.
• Members are responsible for the management of and public access to their studio space or hired venue.
• Members must be realistic about their opening times so they are able to be present. The public will expect the studios and venues to be accessible at the times advertised and published in the NEOS Book.
• An important and integral aspect of NEOS is the distribution of the NEOS Book. Each individual member will receive 50 books to distribute and Groups will receive 150 books. We rely on each member having local knowledge of their area and to take responsibility for distributing books allocated to them as part of their self-promotion for their studio during NEOS. (Books hiding in boxes are not promoting the event!)
• Members should be fully aware that NEOS cannot take responsibility for their studio or venue, their local publicity or the content of their online statements.
• Members are responsible for their own Public Liability Insurance. This is included in the Membership Fee of some Artists Organisations but the Committee can advise if needed. A good place to start is a-n The Artists Information Company.

We hope you won’t have to, but any complaints received by NEOS will be addressed within the scope of NEOS objectives and Constitution. Please use this contact form and title your message: To the VOLUNTEER committee.

We want to create a buzz before the event and releasing the directories six weeks before this is the optimum timing. The timeline from the closing date for applications to collecting the printed brochures from the printers is very tight as it is.

You’ll be able to access all our media on the members page, accessed through the red, my account button at the top-right of every page on this site once your membership fees have been processed. (The page is available to members only.)

NEOS is a volunteer group of artists and makers from the area. We believe – and rely on – local publicity being carried out by participants in their local area. In conjunction with the website, App and The Book, it’s our main method of promotion.

Try contacting a local newspaper with an interesting angle on your event. Newspapers are more likely to do a story if it has a local angle. As a local, you will know the best B&Bs, hotels, surgeries, vets, shops, dentists etc to offer copies of The Book or to place a poster. Friends and family on Facebook would no doubt be delighted to ‘share and like’ a series of posts.

We are @NorthEastOpenStudios on Facebook and @neopenstudios on Instagram. Join in! NEOS needs the advocacy and promotion from every participant if we are to become embedded in the public’s mind as one of the best ways to experience art and craft in the North East of Scotland. Don’t forget, NEOS isn’t just in September; The Book and website and App ensure it is one of Scotland’s most comprehensive and professional arts listings.

If you would like to withdraw your NEOS Entry before the book has been sent to print, you will be refunded your entry fee minus a £30 admin fee. If you withdraw your NEOS Entry after the book has gone to print, you will not be eligible for a refund and your entry will still be included in the Book Publication.

NEOS does not impose a limit on how many artists and makers can share a venue (although naturally the venue itself may have limitations). It should be stressed that NEOS is an open studio event (rather than a craft fayre or exhibition) therefore the most important requirement is that all artists and makers have sufficient space, and permission, to demonstrate their activity and to engage with visitors.