SLO Arts Council - Open Studios Art Tour



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Open Studios 2009 Information for Artists & Galleries

*The deadline to participate in the 2009 Open Studios Art Tour has passed. Signups for the 2010 Open Studios Art Tour will take place in March of 2010. Please check the website for updated information in February 2010.*

Welcome to the Open Studios Art Tour 2009, and thank you for participating! Your Open Studios fees support diverse programs countywide in Arts in Education, a thriving Public Art program, Art After Dark, the Ingrid Reti literary grant, lecture series, SLOCAATS (SLO County Arts Administrator Talk Sessions), and more.

This year, in addition to our popular free marketing workshop, we are offering additional workshops on photographing your artwork, managing your digital library, as well as a fast growing Postcard Promotion. Don't miss these great opportunities!

Personalized Postcard Promo

Get the best deal in town on personalized postcards promoting your studio. If designing your own postcards sounds like a daunting task, or you just don't have the time, we've got a wonderful & affordable option for Open Studios participants. Make a half hour appointment with Sara on the following days, think about what you want your postcard to say, and just bring in your images on CD. We'll work with you to choose your colors and artwork, put it all in place, and order your postcards to arrive at your door in about 10 days. Don't delay, appointments are first come first served, and filling up fast! View a slideshow of last year's first ever ARTS Obispo postcards here. (Be patient, it may take a minute to load.) Deadline has passed. Sign up next year!

6x6(x6) Exhibition

We're excited to announce something new! This year, in addition to digital presentation in ARTS Space Obispo of the work of every artist in the Open Studios Art Tour, ARTS Obispo will host a show of small works by Open Studios artists who choose to participate. This 6x6(x6) show, September 19 - October 23 in ARTS Space Obispo, offers an added opportunity for Open Studios participants to show and sell your work and encourage more visitors to your studio. You may submit one piece, no larger than 6" in any dimension, representative of the work that will be available at your studio. See the time line below for deadlines, or download a submission form here.

Online Visual Artist's Directory (OVAD)

If you are participating as an "Artist" in the 2009 Open Studios Art Tour, you are eligible to participate in the Online Visual Artists Directory ("Gallery" participants are not included in the Directory). Visit the Directory welcome page for more information on joining the directory or making changes to your listing.

Important dates to remember:

June 4-12, including Saturday June 6th: Catalog/Map Proofing, Office hours 10-4

July 20th: Deadline to pay 6x6(x6) entry fee and sign up for the show

August 4: Free Open Studios Marketing Workshop, ARTS Space Obispo, 6-8pm (RSVP required by July 31st)

August 8: Free Open Studios Marketing Workshop, Atascadero Library, Martin Polin room, 11am-1pm (RSVP required by July 31st)

September 1: Artist packets available (catalogs, maps, signs, posters)

September 8, 10am-4pm: Drop off 6x6(x6) show entry at ARTS Obispo, 570 Higuera Ste. 175 in the SLO Creamery

September 19-October 23: 6x6(x6) Show & Digital Preview Exhibition at ARTS Space Obispo. Hours: 10-4, M-F. Limited weekend hours during October.

October 2, 6-9-pm: Gala Opening Reception, Art After Dark

October 10-11, 10am-5pm: South SLO County Open Studios Weekend

October 17-18, 10am-5pm: North SLO County Open Studios Weekend

October 24-25, 10am-5pm: Countywide Open Studios Encore Weekend

October 26-27, 10am-4pm: Artists pick up unsold work

Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, we receive feedback from our surveys regarding the Open Studios Art Tour and in response, we look for ways to improve the experience, both for artists on the tour and visitors who are attending. Some common issues and themes frequently recur in our surveys. Below we address a few of the most common questions:

Q: There are so many artists - why isn’t the tour juried?
A: The Open Studios Art Tour is a non-juried opportunity for artists at all levels to display their work in their studio. This unique event allows the visitor to be his/her own judge as to which studios appeal. Work runs the gamut from the well-known artist whose work sells for thousands of dollars to one just “learning the ropes” of showing and selling work. Our hope is that artists learn by doing and from each other to become more professional in their presentation and practice. While it may seem like there are “too many artists” to see in one or two weekends, we encourage visitors to select the studios they intend to see in advance by browsing the Open Studios Art Tour Catalog, following up by visiting the Visual Artists’ Directory, and attending the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, which showcases the images by Open Studios artists from the Visual Artist’s Directory in a continuous digital projection on the walls of ARTS Space Obispo prior to and during the Tour.

Q: Why does it cost money to sign up / buy a catalog for the tour?
A: The Open Studios Art Tour is ARTS Obispo’s major annual fundraiser. The income from participating artists and sales of Open Studios catalogs accounts for 1/5 of the annual budget for ARTS Obispo! On top of that, it costs upwards of $11,000 to design and produce the catalogs for the tour. This does not include the amount spent on advertising and the various other expenditures required to produce the Tour. ARTS Obispo relies on fundraising and membership for the majority of our income. Grants and large donations are a much smaller part of our income and are usually targeted to specific programs such as the Ingrid Reti Literary Grant or Arts in Education. By supporting ARTS Obispo through Open Studios Art Tour and membership fees, you are supporting the continuation of arts programs that enrich your community throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Q: What were the sales figures for artists on the tour last year?
A: This is a question we get every year, but due to the economic malaise gripping the nation this past year, it is perhaps more pertinent now than ever. The only indicator of how well artists did on the tour in terms of sales is the response we get from our surveys, which were returned by about 40% of participants. According to these responses, these artists made a total of $104,611 in sales, a 5% decrease from last year’s total. However, this figure does not take into account the other 60% of artists on the tour who did not return their surveys. ARTS Obispo is happy to report that a record number of catalogs were sold despite economic concerns, which leaves us excited about the possibilities for this year's Tour!

Q: What are the guidelines for participating in the Open Studios Art Tour?
A: To participate as an “artist” on the Open Studios Art Tour, you need to meet the following criteria:
•You must reside and / or create your art in San Luis Obispo County
•You must be a paid Visual Artist’s Directory member of ARTS Obispo through October of the following year
•You must produce fine arts and/or fine crafts
•Your studio must be open to a site visit
•You must have a substantial body of work; at a minimum 10 pieces.

To participate as a “gallery” on the Open Studios Art Tour, you need to meet the following criteria:
•You must be a paid business member of ARTS Obispo through October of the following year
•You must be open to the public during regular, normal business hours
•Your gallery must be available for a site visit
•You must sell more than one artist’s work
•You must show original work
•You must show at least some local art

Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about the Open Studios Art Tour, how to participate, suggestions for how best to enjoy the Tour as a visitor, or more information about our programs.