The 12th Annual Open Studio Art Tour

On Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October 7, 57 artists participated in 49 open studio locations. The Tour was free for the interested public.

Our Open Studio Art Tour happens each October on Columbus Day weekend during the peak of the beautiful foliage season in southwestern New Hampshire. This year, 57 artists who live and work in the towns around Mount Monadnock - Dublin, Marlborough, Harrisville, Hancock, Peterborough and Jaffrey - participated in the Tour, representing the remarkable range and diversity of the visual arts in our region. (You can see a sample of their work in the Artists section on this site.)

Each year during the Tour, the public visits the workplaces of painters and printmakers, potters and jewelers, sculptors, fiber artists, photographers, woodworkers, glass shapers, and more. There is no charge for the event, although artists offer work for sale, often specially priced for the Tour.

Several thousand visitors from all over New England - and even further - enjoy touring the beautiful countryside, following the distinctive Art Tour signs, and discovering the often tucked-away places where artists work. The mutual exchange of interest and information that takes place between an artist and a visitor on the Tour is exciting and meaningful for both.

A participating artist, Christine Destrempes of Harrisville, wrote this after this year's Tour: "I often question what purpose art serves and if I'm doing enough to make the world a better place. The solitude of making art invites a wandering mind to ruminate, and so it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed and helpless when considering the state of world affairs.... "Then there is the Open Studio Tour and my faith in humanity is restored. All of you seemed to be having such a good time which was a thrill to watch. So many of you spent a lot of time looking at my work, asking questions, and offering positive feedback and encouragement.... "This year more than 200 people visited my studio and more than 30 pieces of art left with them. As a result of your support, I was able to send a substantial contribution to the Monadnock Conservancy to help them continue to protect the land, water, and wildlife of our beautiful region. Thank you for helping me to feel less helpless."