31/03/2026
Dear artists and friends of the Combe Down Art Trail,
We’re delighted to announce that submissions for the 2026 Combe Down Art Trail are now open!
Applications opened on Monday 30th March and will remain open until 1st June, so there’s plenty of time to apply and be part of this year’s event.
Event Details
Combe Down Art Trail 2026
When: 12–13 September 2026, 10am–4pm
Where: Combe Down
What’s New This Year
This year, we’re focusing on the open studio experience. Artists will primarily be exhibiting from their homes and studios, and there will be no organised public venues as part of the trail.
Last year, a few smaller public venues were organised independently by artists themselves. If you would like to organise a small shared venue for a limited number of artists (that is not your home or studio), that is absolutely fine—as long as it falls within the mapped area.
Because we are not using public venues this year, we are also considering slightly expanding the Art Trail area. If you have a studio within approximately 1 mile of the mapped boundary that you’d like to open, please do let us know and we will try to include it.
If you know other artists near you who may also be interested in opening their homes or studios, it would be wonderful to create small clusters of venues in those areas to help make them vibrant and accessible for visitors.
The one exception to the open studio focus is the ‘Snapshot of the Trail’ exhibition at the Museum of Bath Stone, which will return following its success last year. Each participating artist will have the opportunity to showcase a single piece, providing a snapshot of the creativity on display throughout the event.
Who Can Take Part?
Artists living or working in Combe Down can open their own studios or join another artist’s space, as long as the venue is within the mapped area.
If you’d like to participate but don’t have a venue, please apply and let us know—we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Previous Combe Down Art Trail participants (not from Combe Down) are very welcome to apply again, and we will do our best to find you a space within a local artist’s studio.
Hosting & Shared Spaces
If you are planning to open your home or studio, we’d love to know if you would be happy to host another artist.
If you already have artists in mind to share your space, please let us know so we can ensure everyone is included in the trail listings.
If you’re open to hosting but would like help finding artists to share your space, just let us know how many artists you could host and we can help connect you.
For artists looking for a space:
You are welcome to liaise directly with a local artist if you know someone who can host you
Or apply and let us know you need a space—we’ll do our very best to match you with a host
Key Details
Fee: £35 (artists opening their homes/studios), £45 (artists being hosted)
Applications open: 30th March 2026
Deadline to apply: 1st June 2026
Notification of acceptance: 7th June 2026
Payment deadline: 12th June 2026
We’re really excited about this year’s focus on open studios and can’t wait to see Combe Down filled with creativity once again.
If you have any questions, or would like to discuss hosting or being hosted, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Warm wishes,
The Combe Down Art Trail Team
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Combe Down Art Trail, Paintings, Prints, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewellery, Craft
