AUSTIN (KXAN) — For two weekends each November, hundreds of artists showcase their work to the community for free during the Austin Studio Tour.
The event started in 2003 as a “grassroots effort to connect neighbors through art,” according to its website.
The Austin Studio Tour was created and grown by Big Medium, a local nonprofit that supported contemporary arts and artists in Texas until it shut down earlier this year. Almost Real Things, an Austin-based magazine and event series, took over operations of the Austin Studio Tour this year.
According to Big Medium’s website, the tour event started as from a “desire for connectivity and exchange” among a small group of artists who were practicing art in collaboration at Bolm Studios in the early 2000s.
“Through engaging in their local arts community at the grassroots level, the group saw an opportunity to help support the wide spectrum of artists seeking a platform to share their work and creative practices with each other and an audience at large,” the website said.
The Studio Tour was formed with just 28 studios participating.
This year, there are more than 300 locations where over 720 artists, art groups, and hosts will showcase and sell local art and gifts and hold activities and behind-the-scenes peeks at their art.
The city-wide celebration of art will be held Nov. 8-9, and 15-16 from noon to 6 p.m. daily. A directory of all featured participants and locations is available online at AustinStudioTour.com.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect across the two weekends:
- 723 featured Artists, Art Groups & Hosts
- 317 locations around Austin
- Free to attend
- All-ages welcome
- Art-making activities
- Live performances
- Museum tours
- New exhibitions
- Live art demonstrations
- Sensory-friendly exhibits
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