16th Annual Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios is a juried studio tour of 96 artists in the Portland metro area, providing an opportunity for artists to open their studios to the public. Now in its 16th year, it is an important and anticipated annual arts event that attracts visitors from the community and beyond. The tour is a ticketed event; attendees may purchase a printed Tour Guide Calendar, Map-Only ticket, smartphone app, or be personally invited by artists to their studios.

Artists are required to open their studios and demonstrate their working methods during all hours of both weekends (October 11, 12, 18, 19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.). Studios must include an educational element, such as documentation of methods or demonstrations of technical and creative processes. The opportunity is open to all visual media except film and is limited to residents of Portland, Tigard, Beaverton, Aloha, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Tualatin. A studio is defined as any workspace the artist is permitted to open to the public where they can demonstrate their working methods, including living rooms and garages.

Three jurors from Portland's arts community view and score submitted images. The combined scores determine which artists are invited to participate, with no more than 60% of previous participants admitted. Entry fee is $35. Upon acceptance, a participation fee of $150 is collected (funding advertising and Tour Guide printing costs). An optional volunteer opt-out fee of $175 is available. Benefits include publication in a full-color Tour Guide Calendar with contact information, a dedicated website page featuring three images and artist statement, five free Tour Guides and five free Map-Only tickets, studio signs, two free workshops, and blog announcements from April 2014 through March 2015. The Kimberly Gales Emerging Artist Scholarship is available to artists ages 20–30, providing all fees waived plus a $100 stipend.