Open Studios Art Tours: Final Weekend Oct 17-18
More than 350 artists open their doors countywide
For three weekends each October, the art of Santa Cruz County steps out of the gallery and back into the creative space where it was made.
The Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour returned Oct. 3 & 4 in South County, Oct. 10 & 11 in North County bringing visitors into working studios from Watsonville to Davenport, from downtown storefronts to cabins in the mountains.
The finale is this weekend, Oct. 17 & 18, with more than 250 artists open across both halves of the county. Revisit a studio you loved, cover ground you missed, or take a chance on someone new. The tour is free and open to everyone.
Part of the charm of this annutal event, is watching the artists’ processes: a wheel still spinning, a press mid-run, brushes soaking, half-finished work leaning against a wall. Artists talk while they work, answer questions, and explain the decisions that a finished piece can tend to hide. Many sell directly from the studio, so a conversation can end with an original piece under your arm along with the story of how it was made.
A tradition four decades deep
Open Studios began in 1986 as a practical idea. Local artists needed a way to reach buyers and show what they were creating, and the Cultural Council, now the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, organized a weekend to make that happen. Four decades later it has become one of the county’s signature events, celebrating its 41st year in 2026 and drawing visitors from far and wide.
Planning your route
Studios are open from 11am to 5pm. The distances add up quickly, so it helps to pick a cluster of studios rather than crisscrossing the county. Half a dozen stops makes for a full, unhurried afternoon.
The printed Artist Guide magazine lists every participating artist along with studio addresses and maps. Copies are free and available while supplies last at newsstands, preview exhibit galleries, and public libraries countywide. The complete artist directory, with images of the work and studio locations, is at openstudios.artscouncilsc.org.
Come for one studio or fill all three weekends. Either way, you will leave knowing something about how artwork in this county gets made, and get to know the people who made it.
Find all of the artists in the digital artist guide. Download the mobile app. Visit the Open Studios Art Tours website.
Featured photo at top of page: Mattie Leeds creates large & small painted pots and sculptures in his Empire Grade studio garden. (Arts Council Santa Cruz County)
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