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Open Studios Art Tour is Back: After a Hiatus Due to Pandemic, Nearly 300 Artists Ready to Greet Patrons
OPEN STUDIOS Open Studios Art Tour is Back
After a Hiatus Due to Pandemic, Nearly 300 Artists Ready to Greet Patrons
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This October means the return of the Open Studios Art Tour, a free selfguided tour that invites the public into nearly 300 artist studios working in dozens of mediums across Santa Cruz County.
There are seasoned artists who’ve participated since 1986, talented newcomers, and makers and creators of all kinds. Neighbors, friends, collectors and art lovers are invited to meet the artists, see their creative process up close, and buy art directly from the source.
“We’re so happy to be producing the tour again this year,” said Ann Ostermann, Open Studios director for Arts Council Santa Cruz County. “Artists are really looking forward to having one on one conversations with their visitors after a long year of interacting with folks online.”
She added, “We’ve supplied every artist with face masks, hand sanitizer and signage to keep themselves, their families, their helpers and their guests safe during the tour.”
This year, more than ever, it’s taken a lot of planning and rearranging to prepare for the tour.
“The payoff comes in the form of new connections, art sales, and a renewed sense of joy in sharing the artistic process,” Ostermann said.
A program of Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Open Studios takes place the first
Michele Hausman of Soquel three weekends of October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Studios are divided between North and South County (with the SantaCruz
Yacht Harbor as the dividing point) on the following schedule: Oct. 2-3: South County artists Oct. 9-10: North County artists Oct. 16-17: All County weekend featuring select artists.
There are many ways to plan your tour and they’re all free.
Whether this is your first Open Studios or you’ve been attending for years, here are a few strategies for finding your way: 1) Pick up a FREE artist guide at Good Times drop off points throughout the County.
Find artists in your neighborhood, by medium, or simply browse through the guide and find artwork that captures your eye.
2) Download the FREE app — available Sept. 27 on iTunes & Google Play (search for “Open Studios Art Tour”).
Mark favorite artists, map their location, and then build a tour around that. 3) Follow the green signs. During Open Studios weekends you’ll see lime green signs with artist names and arrows all over the county.
