Artists in Haddington, Scotland, are organizing an open studios weekend on September 6 and 7, showcasing their work across seven venues including homes, a garage, a gallery, an arts hub, and an arts centre. Organizer Alistair McIntyre, who previously ran a similar event in Musselburgh, has signed up 15 artists for the event, with participants including Jacqui Wilkie, Fiona Lambert, Sheena Phillips, and others working in media such as painting, needle felting, printmaking, and sculpture.
The event matters because it reflects a grassroots movement to increase local access to visual art and support community-based artistic networks in East Lothian. By opening private studios and unconventional spaces to the public, the weekend fosters direct engagement between artists and residents, strengthening the regional art scene and encouraging similar initiatives to emerge independently across the area.