Plan to grow Open Studios event

Carse of Gowrie artists have welcomed a new sponsor for their section of Perthshire’s annual Open Studios festival.

Open Studios attracts art fans from all over Scotland every year, but there have been fears the Carse area is missing out after its number of participating artists dwindled to only eight.

Now organisers hope the sponsorship from Glendoick Garden Centre can reverse the trend.

Artist Liz Dulley said: “I’d like to thank Jane Cox from Glendoick Garden Centre for agreeing to sponsor the route next year. Her enthusiasm for the project was really encouraging and the number of visitors that Glendoick attracts every week will make a huge difference to the Open Studios.”

Councillor Angus Forbes has been working to improve the area’s presence at the event.

He said the festival is a collaboration of artists who get together to promote themselves over a 10-day period in September each year. The concept is based on a series of routes which visitors are encouraged to follow, he added.

“Glendoick are a big attraction in the Carse and bring huge numbers of visitors with them. Hopefully this sponsorship, along with the practical promotional help that Glendoick have offered, will encourage more artists along with more visitors.”

Jane Cox, owner of Glendoick, said: “It’s a wonderful initiative to bring people to the area.”