Copyright-2008
ARTS Obispo

Open Studios Art Tour 2010

ARTS Obispo's Open Studios Art Tour is one of the largest Open Studios in the country, with over 200 artists participating annually. 2010 marks its 12th year with some big news - free catalogs! Open Studios showcases the quality and diversity of art produced in SLO County. Visitors can see and purchase a wide range of original work by local artists who appreciate the opportunity to share how, why and where their art is created. This event is not only a showcase for artists and a feast for collectors, but ARTS Obispo’s largest annual fundraiser. The funds from Open Studios support ARTS Obispo's community-based programs such as Arts in Education, Art in Public Places, and Art After Dark, supporting arts and culture in San Luis Obispo County. ARTISTS: Click here for important deadlines and more information.

2010 Open Studios Art Tour

September 20: 6x6(x6) Preview Show opens
October 1: Art After Dark reception
October 9-10: North County studios open 10-5
October 16-17: South County studios open 10-5
October 23-24: Encore Weekend County-Wide 10-5

Get Involved!

Are you an artist, past tour participant, visitor, or lover or art? We invite you to be a part of the planning committee for the Open Studios Art Tour. Many hands make light work, as the saying goes, and we need many hands to guide and organize such a large event. It's a fast-paced process that has already begun, with diverse tasks and a need for many kinds of volunteer help. Contact the Program Director, Jenna Hartzell, at programs@artsobispo.org if you are interested in being a part of the process! The committee meets monthly at ARTS Obispo.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Open Studios Art Tour?
The Open Studios Art Tour is the largest art event in SLO County, and ARTS Obispo's biggest annual fundraiser. The self-guided tour takes place each year over three weekends in October and features work from several hundred artists throughout SLO County. Art in a huge variety of media and styles is displayed and sold by artists directly in their homes & studios, and many artists have live demos and works in progress, to see the art being created and get a feel for the process from concept to completion. Tour visitors look through our full-color catalog featuring images of participating artists’ work, their contact information and maps to their studios. There is also a small works show and Digital Preview Exhibition at ARTS Space Obispo to view more of an artist's work. As one Open Studios visitor remarked, “The art means more when one talks directly to the artist”.

• Who runs Open Studios?
ARTS Obispo (AO) the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council produces the Open Studios Art Tour. AO advances the arts throughout San Luis Obispo County with help from funds raised because of Open Studios.

• How do I participate as an artist or gallery on the tour?
To participate in the Open Studios Art Tour, you must be a member of ARTS Obispo. Artists and galleries fill out an application and pay a fee to participate. The Application period for 2010 is now closed. Applications for 2011 will be available to download on the AO website and in the ARTS Obispo office in February 2011. Open Studios Artist Eligibility: Artists who live or work in San Luis Obispo County or within 20 miles of the SLO County line may participate in the San Luis Obispo County 2010 Open Studios Art Tour. In order for artists from outside SLO County to participate, they must be sharing a studio in SLO County, with a SLO County artist. If you have additional questions, call us at 805.544.9251.

• When and where can I buy a catalog for the tour?
BIG NEWS! ARTS Obispo is taking a big risk for big reward. This year, for the first time, catalogs will be available free of charge. Formerly $25 per ticket, we are opening the event up to the community to encourage broader attendance, increase visitors for our artists, and make the tour more family & group friendly. Catalog distribution will be more than tripled (at least 2,500 catalogs distributed) as well as made available online to an audience of many thousands. (Last year, the Open Studios webpage received over 4,000 unique hits in the month of October alone). We anticipate a larger turnout, better sales, and in turn hope even more local artists will jump on board this amazing event!

Catalogs will become available to download here, online September 1st and available at venues countywide on September 15th. A list of where you can pick up your free Open Studios catalog is on its way! Visit the Open Studios Blog for the latest news and information!

• How can I help support the Tour?
In celebration of the 12th year of ARTS Obispo’s Open Studios Art Tour, and to raise much-needed funds, we are planning a fabulous series of 12 arts workshops/demos over the next 6 months. The series is titled 12x12(x12): 12 years of Open Studios, 12 workshops for 12 participants. These workshops are donated by local artists in support of making this year’s ticket to the Open Studios Art Tour free to all visitors. Sign up for a workshop now to help us make this year’s Tour the most accessible in the event’s 12-year history!

We need your help to make the FREE CATALOGS a success! The Open Studios Art Tour is our biggest fundraiser of the year, providing almost a fifth of our annual income. To keep our doors open throughout the year, we need your help! If you can’t take a workshop, you can join ARTS Obispo, or make a donation to Open Studios. All donations of $50 or more will be listed in the catalog and on our website, providing another opportunity to market your art, your business, or make a donation in the name of a loved one, teacher, mentor, or muse. Help make art in San Luis Obispo County accessible to everyone!