This year marks its 13th year with the return of free catalogs!  This year, for the second time, catalogs will be available free of charge. ARTS Obispo has again dropped the $25 catalog charge in order to encourage a broader attendance, increase visitors for the artists, and make the tour more family & group friendly. 

Why do visitors need this (almost) 50-page, full color catalog?  The catalog contains sample images from each artist, contact info and maps to locate studios during the 3-weekend event.  It will serve as their guide to hop from studio-to-studio.

The Open Studios Art Tour, in addition to being ARTS Obispo’s largest fundraiser, promotes public access to the arts and opportunities for local artists. 

This year’s event features 236 open studios over three weekends in October from San Miguel to Nipomo!  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.

While the $25 charge for the catalog has disappeared the need for income never goes away for this Non-Profit Arts Council. ARTS Obispo has included donation envelopes inside each catalog and would like to encourage visitors to donate (small or large, it all helps) to support the Open Studios Art Tour and ARTS Obispo’s community-based programs that include Arts in Education, Poetry Out Loud, Art in Public Places, Art After Dark and Mini-Grants to SLO County artists.

New highlights:

OSAT Spotlight: a blog that gives you a backstage pass before the Tour begins to help you decide which artists to visit.  Read posts from the artists about their process, their favorite tool, see before and after shots of their work and find endless inspiration!  http://osatspotlight.wordpress.com/

“Working Studio” symbol on the artist listing in the catalog indicating to visitors that the studio is: a place where an artist regularly creates art, where the artist's tools, supplies, or processes are on display, whether or not the artist is actively engaged in producing art during the tour; or a place where the artist will be actively engaged in creating art work during the tour so that visitors may view the artist's processes in real time.

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat & Sun for three Weekends:
                                                October 15-16 (South County)
                                                October 22-23 (North County)
                                                October 29-30 (Countywide Encore Weekend)

To pick up a free catalog, stop by ARTS Obispo or download it from www.artsobispo.org.  After September 15 pick up a free catalog at locations around SLO County, listed on ARTS Obispo’s website.