YORK St John University students Nathan Chenery and Stephen Humble are collaborating on an impromptu installation for the eighth York Open Studios.

“We started last Sunday and we’re going to work together in the space with materials we each bring along and see what comes up through the process of working together,” says Nathan, whose joint creation can be seen in the York St John Art Block from today until Sunday.

They are not the only college contributors to this year’s event. In The Gallery at York College, in Sim Balk Lane, Melanie Greenough’s enamelled wall pieces reflect man’s effect on the landscape by using an aerial perspective while Phillip J Parker’s metal furniture combines organic and synthetic ideas.

Each year, the Open Studios introduces new artists and locations, and the 2009 weekend marks the debut involvement of the Quilt Museum, in St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green, where Alison Bramley will exhibit her raw-edged appliqué quilted wall hangings in dupion silk.

Among the new participants selected by the panel are Sudeshna Chattopadhyay, with her gentle paintings of the female world, at Walnut Cottage, Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, and Jessie Gillick, exhibiting satirical drawings, illustrations and cartoons for the broad and shallow mind, at 34 Huntington Road, York.

“They’re very near to the bone and only just suitable for family viewing but they’re lively and provocative,” says Jessie.

New too for 2009 are Rosie Bramley’s mixed-media landscapes, on show at Bootham School, Bootham. “I work both figuratively and in an abstract manner, recalling places from memory and experience,” she says.

Matthew Herring is another Open Studios debutant, exhibiting landscapes inspired by wild and remote places, such as the North York Moors, Yorkshire’s East Coast and Iceland, at 27 Bright Street.

In all, more than 50 artists, craftsmen and designers will be showing their wares in studios, homes, schools and community centres in this free event from today. Visitors can see where and how they work and talk to the practitioners about their skills, and even try their hand at a new skill.

Others taking part are Ben Arnup; Sally Arnup; Jane Askey; Jo Bagshaw; Jane Blackman; Petra Bradley; Judy Burnett; Andrew Burningham; David Campbell; Susan Dennis; Isabel Denyer; Peter Donohoe; Adrienne French; Jessie Gillick; Mary Greene; Mark Hearld; Peter Heaton; Matthew Herring; Freya Horsley; Jacqueline James; Sam Jones; Jane Kennelly; Open Studios chairman Ruth King; Pamela Knight; Harriet McKenzie; Timothy Morrison; Rory Motion; Jonathan Newdick; Charmian Ottaway; Simon Palmour; David Patrick; Penny Phillips; John Potter; Jerry Scott; Lesley Seeger; Joy Simpson; Rebecca Stoner; Ilona Sulikova; Catherine Sutcliffe-Fuller; Karen Thomas; Marianne Von Tucka; Clare Wake; John Watts; Emma Whiting; Jane Wright and Chiu-Wu.

• A free Open Studios directory with maps and details of all locations can be downloaded from yorkopenstudios.co.uk

It is available too from chairman Ruth King on 01904 470196 and from all York libraries and creative outlets across the region. Access to all the venues and studios will be free from 6pm to 9pm this evening; 10am to 6pm tomorrow; 11am to 6pm on Sunday.