Artists open houses

Artful Whitstable!

We have an artful way of stretching out the tourism season in Whitstable. Just as family holidays finish with the start of the new school term, the nationally-acclaimed Whitstable Biennale (well, it was listed in The Guardian's guide at the weekend) is under way to attract perhaps a different kind of visitor. And when that's over, our home-grown artists will once again welcome unashamed 'nosey parkers' like myself to their houses and studios over three weekends in October.
As my own creative talents are very limited, I'm in awe of people who can effortlessly dash off a beautiful and/or meaningful piece of work, and the chance to chat to them and see them in their own habitat rather than a gallery is irresistible. This year, there's an opportunity to peep inside the former Coastguards' Lookout near the West Beach tennis courts, which is now a studio for Mozambiquan textile artist Sidonio Givandas.
Programmes for the East Kent Artists Open Houses 2012 were being delivered today to the usual outlets in town including Horsebridge Centre and the Whitstable Shop. See photo below to make sure you pick up the right thing!

Why do I feel a peculiar sense of pride in noticing that 23 out of the total of 53 'houses' are in Whitstable?