Sat 7 June, 10-4pm, FREE

Twice a year, Matt Black Barn opens its doors to the public, offering a chance to explore our unique creative space.

Our Spring Open Day will feature a programme of artist-led workshops, perfect for of a range of ages and abilities. Artists Wilfrid Wood and Emily Warren, who will be leading sculpture workshops on plasticine portraiture and bug-building, providing an exciting opportunity to explore new materials, techniques and ideas in an encouraging and hands-on environment.

Visitors are also invited to join guided studio tours for a behind-the-scenes look at the working studios of artists Laura Ford and Andrew Sabin. These intimate tours offer an insight into each artists practise, with plenty of time for questions and conversation.

All Workshops require advance booking and cost £25 per person. Entry to the Open Day is free, and you are welcome to visit without attending a workshop or tour, but please register your visit in advance using the Registration option below.

Photograph: Barney Hindle

Sat 28 June, 11am-12.30pm, £30

Join artist Jasmine Simpson for a unique outdoor drawing workshop featuring live alpacas! Hosted in collaboration with Our Back Garden, a local rare breed farm, this session offers the chance to observe and sketch these gentle creatures in action.

With materials and refreshments provided, Jasmine will guide participants in capturing the alpacas’ unique character on paper. Perfect for all skill levels, this relaxing and creative experience is a must for animal lovers and art enthusiasts alike.

Suitable for ages 18+

Photograph: Moon Flower Films

Sat 5 July, 10am-4pm, £50

Don’t miss this rare in-person event at Matt Black Barn, as leading industry expert Ceri Hand shares game-changing strategies for building a sustainable artistic career.

This exclusive day of insight and discussion begins with a focused seminar from Ceri Hand, followed by a studio tour and a panel discussion with established sculptors Andrew Sabin and Laura Ford, offering unmissable guidance in an inspiring, sculpture-focused setting.

This event has been generously subsidised in part by Chichester City Council to enable broader access and support more people in attending this event.

Suitable for ages 18+

Photograph: Ricky Narito

Sat 26 July, 10.30am-1pm, £25

A creative workshop for young artists aged 8-14. Join Leap Then Look for an engaging morning, exploring the power of surprise in sculpture-making. Through interactive activities-including clay sculpting, partner-based drawing, and dynamic construction exercises - participants will discover how unexpected outcomes can fuel our creativity.

Held at Matt Black Barn, this immersive experience invites young artists to experiment, play, and uncover new creative possibilities.

This event has been generously subsidised in part by Chichester City Council to enable broader access and support more people in attending this workshop.

Suitable for ages 8 - 14 years

Photograph: Hugh Fox

Sun 27 July, 11am-12.30pm, £35

Join established artist Laura Ford for Two Soldiers and a Barbarian, an immersive drawing workshop set in the beautiful grounds of Matt Black Barn.

Featuring live models from Roman reenactment group Legio Secunda Augusta, this unique event offers a rare opportunity to capture the drama and detail of ancient warriors in action. Blending art and history, it is sure to be an unforgettable drawing experience.

Suitable for ages 18+

Photograph: We are Legio Secunda Augusta

Sat 30th August, 10-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm £35 (Revised Date)

Step into the breathtaking grounds of Matt Black Barn for a one-of-a-kind drawing experience with acclaimed artist Lucinda Oestreicher.

Set within 4 acres of wildflower meadow, a lake, chalk stream, and woodland dotted with sculpture, participants will explore the unique shape, movement, and memory of the landscape through guided observation and drawing. Materials and refreshments will be provided.

Morning or afternoon sessions available.

Suitable for 18+

Photograph: Lucinda Oestreicher

Sat 23 August, 2.00pm-3.30pm, £50

Join artist Paul Kindersley and his troupe for Ship of Fools, a mesmerising performance at Matt Black Barn, inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s iconic painting.

Kindersley and his troupe will begin their performance by assembling the set, an immersive installation of hand-painted drapery, against which a theatrical spectacle will unfold, bringing to life the voyage of a boatful of revellers lost in indulgence, unknowingly drifting toward their fate.

Suitable for 18+

Photograph:  Ali Tollervey

Entry to the Open Day is FREE, and you are very welcome to visit without attending a workshop or tour. However, if you plan to attend without booking a ticketed activity, please register your visit in advance by using the button below-we look forward to welcoming you.

Sessions:

11AM -12.30 or 2.00 -3.30PM, £35

Led by artist Abigail Norris, this immersive drawing workshop invites you to explore the act of seeing beyond the visible through the surrealist practice of scrying—a meditative method of intuitive mark-making rooted in ancient divination.

Working en plein air (or indoors, weather depending), you’ll engage in a deep, sensory drawing experience shaped by breathing exercises, ambient soundscapes, and close observation.

Participants are required to bring headphones and a mobile listening device with internet access.

Suitable for 18+

Photograph: Benjamin Deakin

Sessions:

11-12.30 or 2.00-3.30PM, £35

Step beyond the expected and into the surreal. This life drawing workshop invites you to explore the human form through the lens of the abstract, the dreamlike, and the bizarre.

Guided by a professional artist, you'll sketch from live models set in imaginative, otherworldly scenes designed to challenge perception and ignite creativity.

Suitable for 18+

Photograph Mariola Grobelska

All tours are £5 per person

Tour Times:

TOUR A: 10:00 - 10:45am

TOUR B: 11:30am - 12:45pm

TOUR C: 1:30pm - 2:15pm

TOUR D: 3:00pm- 3:45pm

Visitors will be shown around the studios where sculptures will be being made in a wide variety of processes, both traditional and experimental.  Visitors will see the full range of procedures that contribute to the professional activity of being an artist from conception through realisation, storage, distribution and installation. There will be the opportunity to meet with the artists and discuss with them issues ranging from creativity and making artwork through to economics , networking and studio management as well as all matters practical.

Tours are Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult.