In addition to his weekly written articles, Fred also covers a different subject in his podcasts. This week he talks to Curtis Tappenden, local artist, poet and author.

If you buy a piece of art from an Open House artist, or even if you just express an interest by signing a guest book (and making sure you add your address), you may well be invited to next year's Private View – or PV as they are affectionately known in the trade. The idea of a PV is to give valued collectors and friends an opportunity to view and perhaps buy a work of art before it goes on show to the general public, a bit like being a Friend of the Brighton Festival where you are privileged to see the brochure in advance of everyone else so you can grab hot tickets to a show before it sells out.

PVs generally take place just before the exibition opens, on the night before, perhaps, so as to give the artists an opportunity for last-minute hanging and labeling of the exhibition. With so many Open Houses opening on the same day, however, there will inevitably be a scramble for that coveted spot. There's no point in organising a PV, only to find that everyone is at the one down the road!