How Open Studio Art Trails Can Boost Your Creative Career

Open Studio Art Trails invite the public into the heart of your creative world, offering an authentic glimpse behind the scenes.

For artists and makers, they are a chance to connect directly with audiences, share stories, gain valuable feedback, and open doors to fresh opportunities.

This is Part 1 in a two-part series on flourishing with Open Studio Art Trails.

Part 2 will focus on how to effectively promote your involvement in the trail and reach a bigger audience with a bag full of affordable and effective methods.

Open Studio Art Trails Organisers

Open Studio Art Trails are often organised by arts groups, local councils, or volunteer committees.

While they are ideal for artists to grow their profile and connect with their supporters, they are also very valuable arts tourism activities for regional communities.

They bring money into local towns for fellow small businesses, from cafes to accommodation to shops and galleries.

They usually run once or twice a year in a set geographic area. While some are a regular monthly event.

Some cover a single weekend, yet others span several weekends or even a fortnight.

In some areas, trails take place seasonally, allowing repeat visits throughout the year.

Open Studio Art Trails and Visibility

For an artist wanting to grow their profile, joining a trail offers valuable visibility as well as a strong sense of community and connection.

For an art group running workshops, exhibitions, art retreats, or residencies, trails can increase participation and community connections. They can also be ideal for attracting new members.

They help artists and makers form links with new audiences and reconnect with loyal supporters.

The relaxed, informal setting of a studio visit can be far more engaging than a gallery.

Types of Artists and Mediums and Open Studio Art Trails

Open Studio Art Trails becomes more engaging when they showcase a variety of mediums and styles. 

Printmakers can demonstrate intricate techniques, while ceramicists reveal the transformation from clay to finished form. 

Watercolour and pastel artists often attract visitors who enjoy watching colours blend in real time. Oil painters can show the richness of layered work. 

Textile artists add tactile interest with weaving, embroidery, and fabric design. Sculptors provide a three-dimensional perspective, from stone carving to metalwork. 

Photographers offer a unique visual narrative through still or moving images. This mix of disciplines appeals to a broader audience and keeps visitors curious.

So have a think about the which local artists and makers would add to a vibrant and enticing element to the trail.

What to Expect Being Part of Open Studio Art Trails

Open Studio Art Trails usually involve preparing your space to welcome guests.

This may mean clearing work areas, setting up displays, or offering light refreshments. Don’t overwhelm yourself with this preparation, keep it simple and allow yourself to enjoy the process.

Some artists run short demonstrations, have a calendar of upcoming events ready to share or have sketchbooks available to browse.

Many trails provide participants with a listing in a printed map or online directory. The promotion of the Open Studio Art Trail itself is vitally important.

It always works better when everyone involved is stepping up to promote the trail itself across their social media platforms, website, newsletter and sending out invitations.

You want as many voices online and offline speaking up and being heard about the trail experience.

Some also organise preview exhibitions showing one work from each participating artist. Again, this needs to be well promoted to ensure success.

The number of visitors can vary depending on location, publicity, and the weather. Ideally, you want to be able to engage with each visitor but as is so often the case, it will be dead quiet and then everyone turns up at once!

Open Studio Art Trails often attract tourists as well as local residents so be respectful with honouring the advertised opening hours.

It is very poor form to start to pack up or close an hour or two earlier than promoted. Doing this gives a really disappointing and negative experience to those who manage to make it to your space in the last hour.

The Experience of Open Studio Art Trails

Open Art Studio Trails are both an event and an experience for artists and visitors.

It invites the public into the creative world and gives artists new ways to share their work. So sometimes this can require participants, the artists involved, to go out of their comfort zones, to be a bit brave and bold. These are the perfect opportunities to stretch those courageous wings.

Whether you are a painter, ceramicist, textile artist, or mixed-media maker, being part of Open Art Studio Trails can open doors to new connections and opportunities.

What’s Next

In Part 2 in our guide to flourishing with being part of Open Studio Art Trails we dive into the vital process of promoting it so your supporters learn about it all.

We go through the power of connecting with passionate arts and craft audiences via newsletters like Art Trails Tasmania, online with blogs and social media and the simple and effective tools you’ll benefit from.

You’ll also find a suit of social media post ideas to promote your involvement so they can be simply plugged into a Content Calendar too, so you know what you’re doing, making life much easier.