Open Studios Art Tour
October 10-11 and October 17-18, 2026
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog of participating artists.
Artist Applications Will Open Late March 2026
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We welcome all artists 18 years or older, from emerging to professional. Applicants must be current residents of San Luis Obispo County and must be present at their studio during the weekends of the tour that they register for.
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An Open Studios studio is defined as the artist’s regular workspace, retaining the atmosphere of art-making with materials, equipment, works-in-progress, and processes visible. This can be a room in a house, a space in a warehouse, a garage, or something different altogether.
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Your body of work should be well-developed and demonstrate your competency, proficiency, and skill in your craft. We recommend a minimum of 10 original pieces on hand for opening day of the Tour, though you may also sell reproductions, prints, cards, and other media—as long as it is your own work! You are not permitted to show work by another artist.
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The Open Studios Art Tour is a chance for artists to show a majority of their work in the space where it is created. It is not just an art show - visitors are looking to get an intimate experience of the creative process in addition to viewing artworks. To uphold the spirit of the Tour, the majority of stops during the Open Studios Art Tour need to be art artists’ working studios.
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If your studio is in a remote or inaccessible location, has little or no access to parking, cannot be made open to the public, or if you’re unsure where you’ll be working on your art in October, you can be hosted by another OSAT artist. Artists are encouraged to arrange a host ahead of time (your host must be applying to the tour) - do not apply to the tour until you have secured a location! The SLO County Arts Council will try to help you find a host studio if you would like assistance.
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Yes, you may host as many as you can accommodate as long as your location is a working studio or you intend to have your creative tools on display. Remember, each artist must complete their own application to be included in the tour.
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Artists for whom 3 or more of the following characteristics are true are not eligible for OSAT: commercial or retail location, retail signage, employees and/or paid apprentices, the majority of business is by “drop-in” rather than by appointment.
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No, galleries are not eligible to apply to the tour if they represent the work of multiple artists. If an artist has a residency at a gallery during the tour or studio space within a gallery, they may apply to the tour as an individual. That individual artist must still have a recommended 10 pieces of original work on display and must retain the atmosphere of art-making with materials, equipment, works-in-progress, and processes visible. Galleries can participate in other ways, such as being a sponsor of the tour and/or being a catalog carrier site. Please contact us for more information.
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Up to two weekends to sell your work and your services (i.e. workshops), while keeping 100% commission
Exposure and building relationships with the public
Increased visibility and name recognition
Listing in the official Open Studios Art Tour catalog with contact information
Listing in the Open Studios Art Tour maps
Provided directional sign, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials
Preparation support for marketing
Advertising and publicity in local and regional publications/media
Help educate the public as to the value of your artwork and what time, training, tools, and equipment go into producing quality original artwork!
FAQs for Artists
Browse Last Year’s Catalog Online
Catalog FAQs
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The 2026 catalog is estimated to be available by early September.
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The Open Studios Art Tour catalog is always free, whether accessing it online or grabbing a physical copy.
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No, we are currently unable to ship catalogs. You can get one for free online or at one of the locations listed in advance of the tour each year.
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Artists are listed by region and city. There is also an index of artists by medium at the end of the catalog along with a section where you can make notes of which studios you’re interested in visiting.
Maps are available after the artist listings as a visual aid to get a better idea of studio locations in relation to each other. We recommend using a navigation tool or app to guide yourself to each studio. (Tip: We always update this webpage during the tour weekends with a Google Map that features all artist locations!)
Find tips for making the most of your tour on page 6 of the 2025 catalog.
The 2025 Tour in the SLO Review
Open Studios Artists Open Up to Visitors
October 13, 2025
Artists Prep for 2025 Open Studios Art Tour
October 9, 2025
Issues & Ideas
Listen to SLO County Arts Executive Director Jordan Chesnut’s interview with David McAbee on KCBX’s Issues & Ideas podcast. Jordan and David discuss arts advocacy and the Open Studios Art Tour.
Thank You 2025 Tour Sponsors!
Media Sponsor