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Artist Studios Tour

Artist Studios Participating Artists:

Artist Studios Tour

We are excited to offer this new, inaugural event for San Miguel County, for the weekend of September 26 & 27, 2009 (hopefully to occur the same time as the changing aspens).   Starting in 2009, the Open Studios tour is a program designed to bridge the gap between artists and art patrons.  For one weekend, artists all over San Miguel County will open their doors to the public, for a unique view of the creative process and an amazing opportunity to meet with clients.  The artists control pricing, curating, and ambience, and can gain exposure and opportunities for their unique art, build mailing lists, and sell their work.  Art enthusiasts get a rare peek at what lies behind the studio doors, meeting emerging and established artists, and building collections, all while exploring the unique nature and colors of San Miguel County.

Artist Studios Eligibility

Open Studios is a subsidized program for individual artists living and/or practicing in San Miguel County.  Each artist sells original artwork, made by him/herself (and collects and pays own taxes).  Each artist must join and pay separately.   Each artist will agree to (i) donate one work of art (by September 10th) to be displayed at Stronghouse Studios on Friday, September 25th for the kick-off party; (ii) join TCAH as a member for 2009 ($35); (iii) open his or her studio to the public from 12 noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, Sept 26 & 27.

Each artist will fill out the application form, and mail the signed copy to TCAH (PO Box 152, Telluride CO 81435) and submit another copy and your art images to TCAH electronically by Friday, March 27, 2009 for a review.  Membership payments may be made online by clicking here.   There is no jury, but work must be of a professional and competent nature.  Accepted artists will be notified the next week and will be asked to sign a participation contract. 

Artist Membership: 

For 2009, in lieu of requiring each artist to pay a participation fee, we are asking that each artist accepted donate a representative image or piece (any size is okay) to TCAH for the kickoff party, to be part of a silent auction to raise funds for TCAH programming - including the Open Studios event.  Participating artists must be a TCAH member ($35) before applying.   (In other parts of the country, application fees are $150-$300!)

Benefits of Artist Studios Tour:

*   Studio information and one color image in the printed guide (distribution: 6,000 copies (Est.), full color).  Please attach one representative image, 300 dpi, CMYK .tiff file or .jpg required.  Please submit image and application form at the same time via email to the Executive Director.

* Studio information and image in the online guide (As above).

*Possibility for larger marketing reach, locally and statewide.  We will be doing a large push, with the help of Telluride Marketing.

* Up to 5 Open Studios posters, to be picked up by participating artist.

*Eligibility to submit announcements to TCAH's monthly eNewsletter

*Eligibility for free artist seminars

Artist Studios Art Show and Auction

The Open Studios art show and auction will be a fundraiser held to subsidize TCAH programs, including the Artist Studios tour.  Art enthusiasts may bid on over 20+ works of art by local artists in a silent auction at Stronghouse Studios on Friday, Sept 25th, from 5-8 pm.   The auction will open an hour early, for a private preview gala for our donors and benefactors, and to meet the artists one on one.

Open Studios Timeline:

Application due Friday, March 27, 2009.  Application must be (i) complete, (ii) include 2-3 images, and (iii) a member.

Notification of acceptance late March-early April, 2009.

Mandatory participating studios meeting "How to prepare for the Tour" Sept 15, 5 pm prompt @ Stronghouse.

Open Studios reception, Fri Sept 25th, 5pm+

Open Studios weekend, Sept 26 & 27th, 12 noon to 5pm

Please use the summer months to work on your pieces!

Artist Studios Visitors:

Last weekend of September, Noon - 5 PM

Once a year, the private studios of Telluride's best artists are open for you and your family!  Enjoy a fall day with friends while you experience the world of creation and imagination.  Discover how artists have carved a studios out of their working spaces, many in their homes.

Everyone is welcome at this event - we encourage you to attend the kickoff party and silent auction on Friday, September 25th, from 5-8 pm at Stronghouse Studios.  All purchases made during this night go entirely to supporting this inaugural event, and support TCAH so that we can encourage artistic development and art education in San Miguel County.

Painters, jewelers, sculptors, woodworkers, textile artists, and more!  Working in a dozen media, these artists welcome you to their unique working spaces - their homes, their galleries, their loft studios, and even an abandoned mine.  See works in progress, finished pieces and demonstrations during this self-guided tour.  Blending art and education, you will be able to meet Telluride's finest artists in a relaxed, intimate setting (their studio), watch the artists create in their own studio, view art that is not exhibited elsewhere, interact individually with your favorite artists, learn more about art in an exciting way, and purchase pieces for yourself and for gifts.

Come during our colorfest weekend, and view the changing of the aspens, September 25-27, 2009.  Lodging packages are available through the Telluride Tourism Board, please contact www.visittelluride.com or sandy@visittelluride.com for more information.  The Artist Studios Tour is free to the public, and our local outfitters Bootdoctors is generously donating a van to shuttle patrons from town to down valley.  Look for the "Van-Go" logo on the side.  The van will pick up patrons hourly starting at 12 noon on Saturday (with last pickup at 4pm) and Sunday.  Hitch a ride for the special event - a burn of a spinning fire wheel at the abandoned mine - on Saturday after nightfall (weather permitting).

Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities

P.O. Box 152 | 283 South Fir St. | Telluride, CO 81435 |TEL. 970.728.3930 | FAX 970.728.8959 www.telluridearts.org