Over the years the Stroud Valleys Artspace (SVA) has become a hub for local artists and creatives to work in and exhibit their art.

The project began in 1996, with artistic directors Jo Leahy and Neil Walker wanting to create a space for artists to work on their projects alongside each other.

“I started as an artist and wanted to be able to share studio space with others,” explained Jo.

“It developed into a permanent project and artists began flocking here. It came out of a desire to share with others and I felt there weren’t any opportunities to do this.”

And over 20 years later, SVA is still going strong and has created a network of over 200 members.

SVA has two spaces in Stroud Town Centre – a 3 storey warehouse on John Street and The Brunel Goods Shed.

The two buildings provide space for a year-round programme of visual arts, music and film by both local and international artists, and this month SVA will be hosting their 23rd year of Open Studios and Site Festival.

Jo continued: “I was inspired to make something happen for artists and the starting point was to create a shared artists workspace in the centre of town. After opening in 1997 our ambitions grew rapidly to involve a much wider community of artists and that’s when the Site Festival and Open Studios was born.

“We’ve got talks running throughout the festival on a variety of different topics which have been organised in partnership with Atelier Stroud and the University of Gloucestershire.

“Assemble are a Turner Prize winning architectural practice who will be discussing their ground-breaking community focussed design work.

“Charles Landry is a visionary who’s worked in city development in places like Berlin and Helsinki, he’ll be talking about the importance of creative activity and spaces in small towns like Stroud as well as cities like Berlin to bring about positive and imaginative change to our environments.

Other events include a conversation between Nancy Trotter Landry of Giffords Circus and artist Sheridan Jones, and comedy from Jonny Fluffypunk.

The Site Festival runs from Friday 3rd to Sunday 19th May, with the Open Studios events taking place on Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th, and Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th May.

“The Open Studios are for both artists and those curious about artists practice and the art world,” added Jo.

“We want to make it more accessible and for people to realise it’s important to acknowledge the important contribution that art and artists bring to a community like Stroud.”

The festival is also about bringing attention to the work of local creatives alongside internationally recognised artists and creatives.

Jo added: “Stroud is known for its arts and crafts heritage which is a rich and fertile ground for contemporary artists to thrive as well as internationally renowned arts industries such as Pangolin, Science and Darbyshires who are based here in the Stroud Valleys.

“We’re all about celebrating creativity in the area.”

For the full programme of events and for more information visit www.sitefestival.org.uk