LOOK for the York Open Studios 2004 sign next weekend.

Such signs will be displayed outside and around artists' studios in central York, Heworth, Heslington, Clifton, Stillingfleet and Stockton-on-the-Forest.

Welcome to the third annual York Open Studios event run by Anne Hutchison and Gail Fox, who have arranged for 22 artists and print-makers to open their studios and houses from 10am to 6pm, on March 20-21.

"This will give the public the chance to meet the artists and to see and buy a wide variety of art and craft in an informal non-gallery environment," says Anne.

"Most artists will have work for sale, and some are offering demonstrations of work and activities for children, and as ever we're aiming to attract new arts audiences as well as keeping the existing ones interested."

An accompanying exhibition of work, featuring most of the artists, opened last weekend in the bar at City Screen, York, and will run until March 21.

The organisers have published a free directory of the event, with a route-planner map showing the location of each venue and details of all participating artists and their work.

These directories - and cycle-route maps - are available from YORtime, at the Central Library, in Museum Street, or by telephone on 01904 553440 or e-mail to yortime@york.gov.uk

Artists taking part this year will be: Rachel Antill, sculpture and drawings, Bootham School, York; Ben Arnup, stoneware ceramics, geometric trompe l'oeil sculpture, The Cottage, Love Lane, The Mount, York; Julie Bailey, non-figurative printmaking, Lyngarth Cottage, The Village, Stockton-on-the-Forest; Richard Barnes, digital photography, collage and painting, Bootham School; Clare Belbin-Carlile, painting, drawing and printing, Danesmead Close, York; Petra Bradley, printing, life drawing and sewing, Emerald Street, The Groves, York.

Isla Denyer, stoneware pots, porcelain and silver jewellery, East Parade, Heworth; Milena Dragic, relief prints, linocuts, wood engraving, Danesmead Close, York; Gail Fox, countryside drawings and paintings, Green View, The Green, Stillingfleet; Adrienne French, painting and prints of North Yorkshire Moors, Borders and West Coast of Ireland landscapes, East Parade, Heworth; Mary Greene, painting, printmaking, West Moor Lane, Heslington; Judy Holmes, prints, West Moor Lane, Heslington; Anne Hutchison, mixed media drawings, paintings and mirrors, East Parade, Heworth; Jacqueline James, hand-woven rugs and wall hangings, Rosslyn Street, Clifton.

Ruth King, salt-glazed stoneware, Green View, The Green, Stillingfleet; Pamela Knight, painting and printmaking Norfolk Street, York; Debbie Loane, paintings and prints on the theme of place, Emerald Street, The Groves, York; David Patrick, landscape and cityscape drawing and painting, Norfolk Street, York; Jerry Scott, abstract painting, Cotswold House, The Green, Stillingfleet; Ilona Sulikova, raku-fired pots and earthenware pottery, Holmefield Community Centre, Peel Close, Heslington; Catherine Sutcliffe-Fuller, etchings of local scenes, The Village, Stockton-on-the-Forest; Peter Wray, printmaking, painting, Handprint Studio, Rear of Fox Inn, Stockton-on-the-Forest.

The York Open Studios weekend is funded by Arts Council England, City of York Council and the Lottery Grants Awards For All scheme. Admission to all studios is free.

Updated: 08:38 Friday, March 12, 2004