Arts Open

Arts Open is a biennial visual arts festival held in the Mount Alexander Shire (Castlemaine and surrounding towns and countryside). Artists throw open their studio doors for to members of the public. Visitors get a unique opportunity to meet the artists of our region, witness the spaces in which work is created, gain insights into the creative process and purchase work directly from the artists.

Personal studios plus a series of group exhibitions showcasing over 90 professional painters, printmakers, jewellers, sculptors, multimedia artists and craftspeople across the townships of Castlemaine, Newstead, Maldon, Chewton and beyond open over two weekends. The Castlemaine Market Building is the Arts Open festival information hub and presents an exhibition of outstanding work from the region during each festival.