Open Studios Art Tour 2026 - Santa Cruz County

Welcome to Arts Council Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour

Open Studios is a self-guided tour that attracts thousands of visitors from near and far who learn about and purchase art straight from artists. Open Studios not only shines a light on the vast variety and sheer talent of visual artists in our community, it also ignites relationships, inspires conversations, and bridges gaps of understanding between art appreciators and creators, establishing connections that extend far beyond the tour.

Now in its 41st year, the Open Studios Art Tour is one of Santa Cruz County’s most anticipated annual art happenings. Each year 300+ artists throughout Santa Cruz County open their creative spaces to the public during the first three weekends of October.

Dates for the 2026 tour:
South County*: Saturday & Sunday, Oct 3 & 4
North County**: Saturday & Sunday, Oct 10 & 11
All County: (optional) Saturday & Sunday, Oct 17 & 18
** South County includes Live Oak, Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Freedom, Corralitos, La Selva Beach, and Watsonville.
* North County includes the City of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Felton, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, Boulder Creek, and Davenport
Studios

Open Hours: 11am - 5pm

Open Studios at a Glance

Who can apply? We welcome all artists 18+ years or older, from emerging to professional to apply. All applicants and participating artists must be permanent residents of Santa Cruz County.

How much artwork is needed for the application? You’ll need to submit high quality digital images of seven individual pieces of art representing a cohesive body of work that shows technical proficiency in one selected medium at the time you apply. We only accept work samples created between 2023 and the present.

How much artwork do I need to have completed at the start of the tour? A minimum of 15 original pieces in the selected medium under which you were juried. 

What artwork can I display during the tour? In addition to the 15 pieces of original art in the one selected medium under which you were juried, artists may display and sell other media artwork during Open Studios.

How much does it cost to apply? 

$40 to apply (non-refundable)

How much does it cost if I’m invited to take part in Open Studios?
$325 participation fee for returning artists; $285 participation fee for first-time artists. Payment due on June 30th (staggered payment plans available upon request).

Do I need an Artist Statement for the application? You'll need a special statement called a “Description of Materials & Technique” which will be read by the jurors. This statement is limited to 750 characters (letters, spaces & punctuation). Be clear and succinct in describing your artwork: State the medium, material(s)/media when significant, and technique/when significant. Do not include your name or other personal details.

Do I need to have exhibited in a gallery to be eligible to apply to Open Studios? No. 

What kind of studio do I need for the tour? An Open Studios studio is defined as the artist’s regular workspace. It can be a room in your house or apartment, a space in your garage, a table in your kitchen, a space in your yard, or a studio space you rent throughout the year.

Does the tour have to be in my studio? To uphold the spirit of the tour, the majority of stops during Open Studios need to be at artists’ working studios. 

• Hosting 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 not sure where you’ll be working on your art in October, you can request to be hosted by another Open Studios artist. Artists are encouraged to arrange a host ahead of time (your host must be applying to the tour). Arts Council will help you find a host studio if you haven’t secured one or if your host is not invited to participate.
• May I host multiple artists in my studio? Yes, as many as you can accommodate at your location. 
• Hosting Program for Watsonville-based artists at Pajaro Valley Arts & Watsonville Center for the Arts: The Arts Council is offering Open Studios space to five Watsonville-based artists who don’t have a studio that’s available to the public. Available Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 17-18.
• Studios that are not eligible: Retail spaces are not eligible. Other non-eligible spaces include those where three or more of the following characteristics are true: commercial/retail location, retail signage, employees and/or paid apprentices, majority of retail business is by “drop in” rather than appointment.

What are the benefits of being an Open Studios artist?

• Up to two full weekends to welcome the public to your studio and sell your artwork.
• Increased visibility and name recognition.
• $20,000+ in print/online/radio ads throughout Santa Cruz County, Silicon Valley, and Monterey County. 
• Listing in the Open Studios Artist Guide & Mobile App (22,000 free Guides & free mobile app).
• Listing on the Open Studios webpage, including image and link to your website.
• Social media exposure through Arts Council Facebook & Instagram pages, e-blasts, and Arts Council newsletter.
• Preparation support for marketing and merchandising your work.
• A piece of your artwork in the Preview Exhibit at MK Contemporary Art Gallery.
• Artists in South County will have the option of displaying a second piece at the South County Preview Exhibit at PVA (Porter Building) in Watsonville.
• Artists on the North Coast and in the Santa Cruz Mountains will have the option of displaying a second piece at the North Coast & Santa Cruz Mountains Preview Exhibit at the Santa Cruz Art League.

What kind of support will I get in the months leading up to Open Studios?

• All first-time participants are offered one-on-one mentoring from a veteran Open Studios artist.
• Arts Council provides technical support to artists in the months leading up to the start of the Tour including artist workshops, support documents, a resources page covering a variety of topics – marketing, pricing, display, social media,, etc. and regular email communications from the Open Studios Manager.

May I show other artists’ work in my studio? What if my studio is in a building with other studios? Artists must agree not to exhibit, sell, or host non-participating artists in the space over which they have interest or control. Artists who have not been juried into the Tour are asked not to present themselves as Open Studios artists.  

What if I collaborate with another artist? May we apply together on one application?

Artists may apply together on one application only if all of the artwork is created collaboratively.

May I show and sell reproductions of my work in Open Studios?

Reproductions for sale may be included in your Open Studios display, with the following restrictions:

• Original work should be prominent and should be seen first as visitors enter the studio area.
• Only 25% of an artist’s Open Studios display space should be allocated for reproductions. 
• Reproductions should be separated from the main body of your original work and clearly labeled.
• An explanation of the reproduction process should be posted with reproductions. This serves to educate the public about the distinction between original art and reproductions.
• Photography and digital art are considered original art, not reproductions.

May I photograph my own artwork for my application?

Yes, but keep in mind that digital images of your art are your only voice to the jury. Make sure that the quality of each image is good i.e. good lighting and no distracting or unflattering elements (e.g. frames, easels, furniture, hands, glare, etc.). If you are photographing your own artwork we recommend you read the Image Preparation guide on ZAPP^® and review examples of lighting, exposure, focus/clarity, perspective, size, consistency, and background in Tips for Photographing Your Artwork. There are also local photography studios such as Bay Photo who offer packages for artists. 

How do I decide which images to submit as my body of work?

Consider the following when selecting your body of work for the application:

• Are your images of seven individual, original works of art?
• Do your images represent technical proficiency in a single medium?
• Do your images reflect a cohesive body of work, similar in style, theme, or visual language?
• Does your work look as though the same person created it all?
• Is the quality of each image good? Do they accurately represent your artwork?
• Has the artwork been photographed with good lighting and no distracting or unflattering elements (e.g. frames, easels, furniture, hands, glare, etc.)?

Application image requirements
All images submitted with your application must be formatted to the following specifications:
Dimensions: 1920 pixels on the longest side. To assist artists who do not have images that are 1920 pixels or larger, the system will also accept images that are at least 1400 pixels on the longest side.

• File format: Save all images as JPEG or JPG files
• File size: Must be under 5.0 MB 
• File Resolution: 72-300dpi
• Color space: sRGB

Visit the ZAPP® Help Center and select the Digital Tutorials and Resources tab for a list of image sizing resources.
Our friend David Reese and Bay Photo are also great resources for professional photography.

Artist Guide image:
Your Artist Guide image must be formatted to the following specifications in order for it to print properly. Please note the specifications are different from the other six image specs for the application.

• File name: Name your file, LAST name, FIRST name, Guide (ex: Smith-John-Guide)
• File type: jpg or jpeg
• File format: CMYK is the preferred format; however, RGB is acceptable
• File resolution: Must be 300 dpi
• File size: 3.4" wide x 2.75" tall (horizontal) OR 2.3" wide x 2.75" tall (vertical) OR 2.75" wide x 2.75" tall (square)

Artist Guide image requirements:
The artwork depicted must have been created within the last three years (2023 to present), be representative of the work submitted with your application and work visitors will see in the studio.
The Artist Guide image can be one of the pieces submitted with your application but it doesn’t have to be.
Your images may be used by the Arts Council to promote Open Studios to the public.

Considerations when selecting your Artist Guide image:

• Images are shown six to a page in the Artist Guide.
• Images are either horizontal, vertical, or square  in the required dimensions.
• Images on the page are surrounded by white. 3-D work should be photographed with a light colored background rather than white so the work doesn’t look like it’s “floating” on the page.
• Choose a colorful image that will stand out when printed in that size.
• Choose an image that represents your artwork and style well.
• Multiple pieces can be included in the same image.

What are typical expenses to expect as an Open Studios artist?
While many marketing options are free, there are optional paid marketing and promotional expenses that you might consider including:

• Artist Postcards
• Food & Beverages at your Open Studios
• Material costs to prepare artwork for sale (framing, matting, displays, etc.)
• Professional photographs of your artwork
• Website design/updating

Application Assistance
We offer drop-in office hours in-person and on Zoom to answer questions about participating in Open Studios, selecting your body of work for your application, and preparing required digital files.

• Thursdays March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16, 23 | 12-2pm or by appointment

Jury Process
Jurors will review art in the following categories:
Assemblage
Ceramics
Digital Art
Drawing/Illustration
Encaustic
Fiber Arts/Textiles
Glass
Jewelry – metalsmithing
Jewelry – other
Metal Work
Mixed Media 2D/Other
Mixed Media 3D/Other
Mosaic
Other
Painting - Acrylic/Gouache
Painting - Oil
Painting - Pastel
Painting - Watercolor
Paper Arts/Collage
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Woodworking

The following instructions are given to the jurors:
Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios Art Tour showcases art in a broad range of media and styles. The event contributes to public awareness about the quality and diversity of the artists in our community. Participation in Open Studios is intended for artists producing fine art and fine craft. The event is an opportunity to show a body of original artwork that reflects a personal style and vision, and technical proficiency with their medium.
Review and score the artwork using a scale of 1-5 applying the following criteria:

• Technical Proficiency: The images show expertise in a given medium.
• Cohesive Body of Work: The body of work looks like it was created by the same artist, reflecting their personal creativity and voice.

Meet the 2026 Open Studios Jurors!
1. George Rivera - Former Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Triton Museum of Art and Current Art Faculty Instructor at both Mission College, Santa Clara; and Ohlone College, Fremont
2. Mary Cloonan - Sculpture Artist, Professor, Exhibitions Director at Baltimore Clayworks
3. Audrey Heller - Artist, Former Board Member and Event Consultant for ArtSpan.org
4. Alyssarhaye Graciano - Curator for MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana)
5. Allison Railo - Curator for New Museum Los Gatos

When will I be notified whether or not I’m invited to be part of the 2026 tour?
Artists will be notified by email by June 2 regarding the status of their application. Notification will be sent to the email address from your ZAPP® Artist Profile. Please make sure your ZAPP® profile information is up to date with the correct email address.

View our Application Toolkit 

If you have questions after reading these Guidelines, contact Bree Karpavage, Open Studios Program Manager, bree@artscouncilsc.org | 831-475-9600 x13

Arts Council Santa Cruz County 1070 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Statement of Non-Discrimination: Arts Council Santa Cruz County is committed to providing services and making resources available to every member of Santa Cruz County without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, political opinion, national origin, familial status, mental and physical disability, gender identity, source of income or disability status.

All applicants must be permanent residents of Santa Cruz County.

We do not ask for a booth shot as part of our application. Does not apply to individual studios.

Application fees are non-refundable.
Participation fees are refundable through June 30th. After that date they are not refundalbe.