34th Annual Open Studios Art Tour
September 12 – 13 and 19 – 20, 2026 | 11 AM – 5 PM
Monterey County is teaming with amazing creatives that deserve to be seen. Open Studios is not only your chance to share your art, it is also a powerful way to build your brand, sell work directly to collectors, and invite the community into your creative process. As part of the tour, you’ll also gain valuable exposure through a special preview exhibit leading up to OSAT, including an artist reception for a chance to meet other participating artists and meet future OSAT visitors. This kickoff event is your chance to showcase a signature piece and network with potential patrons and fellow artists before the studio doors even open. In addition, you will also benefit from:
Massive Local Reach: Your work will be featured in 24,000 full-color magazines inserted into the Monterey County Weekly.
Digital Visibility: Stay discoverable through the FREE Art Tours Mobile App and a dedicated artist profile on the Arts4MC website, featuring your bio and artwork image.
Marketing Kit: Receive everything you need to drive traffic, including postcards, social media features, and high-visibility studio signage.
Expert Guidance: Gain access to free support and a workshop designed to teach you the best practices and insider tips for a successful tour.
Strategic Publicity: Benefit from the Arts Council’s collective buying power with professional media coverage and social media promotion of this county-wide event.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
March 1 - 15, 2026
Early Registration Fee
March 16 - April 15, 2026
Regular Registration Fee
April 16 - 30, 2026
Regular Registration Fee Extended
Individual Artists - $250
Orgs. & Galleries - $500
Individual Artists - $300
Orgs. & Galleries - $600
Individual Artists - $300
Orgs. & Galleries - $600
Additional Important Dates
Special OSAT Exhibit at the Oldemeyer Center: August 3, 2026 through October 1, 2026,
OSAT Artist Reception on August 28, 2026 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
Individual Artists
You are welcome to participate for one weekend or two. There is no additional cost to participate in both weekends unless you will be located at a different location each weekend. The fee for two locations is your base fee plus 50%. If you are planning to participate at two different locations each weekend contact Klara at klara(at)arts4mc.org
Registration Steps for Individual Artists
1. Registration form
Enter your registration information.
2. Artist Statement
We require a brief artist statement of up to 100 words, please type it in the required field within the application.
3. ArtWork Images
Please upload at least one or up to four high-resolution, horizontal, digital images of your work with the proportions of 1.5 : 1 in .jpg, .jpeg or .png file format. The images will be used in the Magazine Guide and in promotional advertising. The artwork pictured in your images does not need to be available for sale, the images are a representation of your work.
Digital image files should be a total of no less than 1,000 pixels, and no greater than 1,200 pixels, on the longest dimension. Files can be saved in RGB or CMYK mode and in .jpg, .jpeg or .png file format. Images provided as RGB will be converted to CMYK and no color corrections will be made. Vertical, square and round images will be cropped to fit the catalog format. Some cropping may occur to horizontal images as well.
4. Fee payment
Pay your fee by Credit Card, PayPal, or Venmo as part of the registration form.
Organizations & Galleries
Featuring 2 or more artists
Monterey County arts organizations and galleries owned and featuring local artists only are invited to join the tour; its members can participate in a collective exhibition and sell their works. Organizations and Galleries* are welcome to participate one weekend or two. There is no additional cost to participate both weekends.
The organization’s logo only will be included in the Magazine Guide (printed and e-version), on Mobile App, Arts4MC website, Facebook, Instagram posts, and in promotional advertising, unless individual artists want to purchase their own registration or an ad in the magazine.
Registration Steps for Organizations & Galleries
Featuring 2 or more artists
1. Registration form
Enter your organization’s registration information.
2. Organization Description
We require a brief mission statement of up to 100 words, please type it in the required field within the application.
3. Logo Image
Please upload a high resolution horizontal image (300dpi) of your organization/s logo in. jpg, .jpeg or .png file format.
The organization’s logo only will be used in the Magazine Guide and in promotional advertising. Digital image files should be a total of no less than 1,000 pixels, and no greater than 1,200 pixels, on the longest dimension. Files can be saved in RGB or CMYK mode and in .jpg, .jpeg or .png file format. Images provided as RGB will be converted to CMYK and no color corrections will be made. Vertical, square and round images will be cropped to fit the catalog format. Some cropping may occur to horizontal images as well.
4. Fee payment
Pay your fee by Credit Card, PayPal, or Venmo as part of the registration form.
Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you require assistance completing your registration.
Alternative Sites and Hosting Other Artists at Your Location
Are you interested in participating but don’t have a studio or prefer to show your work somewhere other than in your studio?
We have a few locations available on a first-come, first-served basis. Other locations may become available.
Please contact Klara at klara(at)arts4mc.org for further details and to reserve your space.
- Hidden Valley Music Seminar, Carmel Valley – September 19 – 20, 2026
- Community Center at Soper Field, Seaside – both weekends (September 12 – 13 & 19 – 20, 2026)
- Cypress Grove Winery Tasting Room, Downtown Carmel – both weekends (September 12 – 13 & 19 – 20, 2026)
- Carl Cherry Center for the Arts – both weekends (September 12 – 13 & 19 – 20, 2026)
*Sundays opens at 12noon instead of 11am - Other locations may become available
The maximum number of artists at any one location is six.
If you need a site and you don’t choose to participate at the sites listed above, please contact Klara(at)arts4mc.org to find out who is hosting others. The maximum number of artists at any one location is six.
If you are participating at your own site and would like to host other artists, please contact Klara(at)arts4mc.org to let her know how many artists you can host, and she will put you on the Host List.
Collateral Pieces, Publicity, and Education Provided
- Your listing is included in the digital and printed, full color Open Studios Magazine Guide. Participants will receive a number of printed magazines to distribute before and during the tour. 24,000 copies are provided to the Monterey County Weekly for insertion in their publication the first week of Open Studios.
- You will be included in the Open Studios Art Tour 2026 App for Androids and iOS
- You will receive digital and printed postcards.
- You will receive a number of heavy, coated paper location signs, to be placed at your location, throughout your neighborhood, and at the intersections near you to guide the public to your studio. You will have an opportunity to purchase rigid, waterproof signs made of plastic. You will receive an email with directions for ordering the plastic signs after you have registered.
- You will be eligible to participate in free workshops that teach best practices and tips for a successful tour.
- The Arts Council purchases media coverage in various local media.
- We will post about each participant on our social media accounts.
- You will be included in the Open Studios Artists section of the Arts4MC website, including up to 4 images of your artwork and a brief artist statement. The artist’s statement should be a maximum of 100 words.
* Note: Please add [email protected] to your contact list, so that you’re sure to receive emails about Open Studios, the workshops, related events, and other important details related to participating in the tour. Please also check your spam folder regularly to make sure messages aren’t going there.