One of our favourite parts of the mad thing they call the Brighton Festival is the Open Houses programme, partly because it’s genius in its simplicity, and secondly because I’m not sure it could work in any other city. The concept is simple, and this is it: Brighton and the surrounding towns are home to numerous fantastic artists. Why not turn the homes of those artists into a network of unique mini-galleries for the month of May, and invite art fans from Brighton and beyond to sample the art being created here in the unique setting of those artists’ homes? See, told you it was simple, but how brilliant is that?

There are over 1,000 artists taking part in the Open House programme this year, their work being exhibited in 221 open houses, most homes of participating artists. These open houses will be open to the public each weekend of May. They’re all over the city, and in nearby towns, including places as far afield as Lewes and Newhaven. To make it all much easier to handle, organisers of the whole thing publish a programme that groups the houses geographically. The idea is that you set aside an afternoon, pop the programme in your pocket, and work your way around one of the “artist trails” that are on offer. There are 13 to choose from.

Because the trails are based on geography rather than artistic themes you’ll find a very eclectic mix of art as you work your way around one. Take the Central Brighton trail for example. There is the very contemporary poster work of a team of designers at 50 Providence Place, showcasing posters designed mainly for bands, including the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Iron & Wine, Ian Brown, Little Barrie and British Sea Power. Then, in the same trail, is the art of members of the Sussex County Arts Club, itself an eclectic mix, but much of it in a wholly different domain to the posters at Providence Place. You’ll find the work of fine artists like Sophie Coryndon and Gilly McFadden, engravings from Garrick Palmer and Bert Isaac, illustrations by Lucy Vigrass and Andy Martin, and even some sculpture at 40 Tidy Street. While at 12 Kemp Street is the work of photographer Garry Hunter. As I said, pretty eclectic. But that’s why all this is so good.

You can pick a copy of the Artists Open Houses programme all round Brighton, or check it out in pdf form at www.aoh.org.uk. From a great concept to some great art, if the sun shines any weekend this May, go get art trailing, that’s what we say.