calgary artists studio tour

Get Ready for 2025!

May 2nd : 2 pm - 8 pm, may 3rd : 10 am - 4 pm, may 4th : 10 am - 4 pm, calgary artists studio tour 2024: a resounding success.

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour once again proved to be a magnificent celebration of local artistic talent and creativity. The 2024 event saw an impressive increase, with over 80 Calgary and area artists participating, doubling the number from the previous year. It was clear that this year’s tour surpassed all expectations, growing over three times the size of the inaugural tour in 2022. The tour attracted hundreds of enthusiastic participants, fostered engaging art conversations, facilitated the sharing of creative spaces, allowed participants to purchase unique local artwork, and provided a fun and inspiring experience for all involved. 

Unveiling Local Artistic Excellence

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant and diverse creative talents within our community. As you step into the studios of local artists, you’ll discover the stories, inspirations, and techniques behind their work. This immersive experience not only connects visitors with the rich artistic culture of Calgary but also provides a rare glimpse into the personal spaces where creativity flourishes. Whether you're an art enthusiast, collector, or simply curious, the tour promises an inspiring and enriching journey through the city's artistic landscape.

Supporting Local Artists

By attending the Calgary Artists Studio Tour, participants directly contribute to the growth and sustainability of the local art scene. The tour allows art enthusiasts and collectors to connect directly with aspiring to professional artists. Purchasing artwork directly from the artists supports their livelihoods and encourages the continuation of their creative endeavours.

Explosive Growth and Community Engagement

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour has seen tremendous growth, expanding from 39 artists in 2022 to over 80 in 2024, highlighting its rising popularity and significance in the local arts scene. The event now draws hundreds of participants, including art enthusiasts, collectors, and curious individuals eager to explore Calgary's creative landscape. This expansion has allowed for a wider variety of artistic mediums, styles, and themes to be represented, enriching the experience for all visitors and solidifying the tour’s role as a key event in the community.

Art Conversations and Networking

One of the standout features of the Calgary Artists Studio Tour was the chance for participants to engage in enriching conversations with the artists. Visitors could delve into the stories and inspirations behind each piece, gaining a deeper insight into the artist's creative vision. These personal interactions ignited thought-provoking discussions, forged meaningful connections, and left a lasting impression on both artists and visitors, making the experience truly memorable.

A Fun and Inspiring Experience

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is not just a platform to appreciate and purchase art but an immersive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Visitors had the chance to witness the artists' passion firsthand, immerse themselves in the creative atmosphere, and gain a deeper appreciation for the artistic process.

Looking Ahead

2025 calgary artists studio tour dates.

Building upon the overwhelming success of the 2024 tour, the organizers are thrilled to announce the return of the Calgary Artists Studio Tour this May! Mark your calendars for May 2, 3, & 4, 2025, and prepare for another spectacular event celebrating Calgary's thriving art community. The upcoming tour promises to bring even more talented artists, captivating artwork, engaging conversations and powerful, supportive connections.

When you register as an artist with CAST, you’ll gain access to social media training workshops and networking events!

How It All Started CAST 2022

Jean Parker

In the spring of 2022, Jean Parker contacted Marcela Strasdas, a key member of the Hills to Shore Studio Tour in Victoria, BC, to seek guidance on starting a similar initiative in Calgary. With the generous support of Marcela, a group of volunteers interested in showcasing their work and studios to the public began working together to launch CAST (Calgary Artists Studio Tour) with 12 participating artist studios. CAST's ultimate vision is to expand the tour and provide a platform for artists to promote their art and help the general public appreciate and learn more about fine art and the artists behind it.

Marcela Strasdas

CAST Testimonials!

Jean, "Love your space! So colourful - much like you."

Christina - Thank you for a lovely studio tour, you have a beautiful body of artwork and welcoming environment.

Kelsi from Airdrie, AB

Participating in the Calgary Artists Studio Tour was a truly an amazing experience for me as an artist.  It was a great opportunity for me to showcase my work to the local public and a wider audience.

Leslie Starr

Brandie is an amazing artist. I currently have 2 pieces and plan on many more. A friend & I were able to see Brandi’s art in her home & watch her as she worked on a beautiful nature scene during the Calgary Artists Studio Tour. Brandie was so warm & welcoming during the tour, it felt like visiting a friend. We learned about color mixing, how to put texture into paintings & Brandie was so knowledgeable & patient. If nature/ landscapes color & joy are your taste, I highly recommend Brandie.

In 2022, I braved the snow and popped into the studios of ALL the artists on the tour!  It was two days packed full of great conversations and beautiful art.  I enjoyed connecting with each of the artists in-person as well as seeing their art and creative spaces!!  The whole weekend was brilliant!!

Heather Kinahan

Interested in being a CAST sponsor? Download the sponsorship package.

Minimum Sponsor Amount: $100 Funds gathered through sponsorship will be used to expand our marketing campaigns as well as cover website and business costs. 

Calgary Artists Studio Tour

May 3, 2024 to May 5, 2024

Studio Tour - Multiple Locations

April 1, 2024

“Calgary Artists Studio Tour,” 2024

(courtesy of CAST)

This year our tour has expanded to over 80 local artists participating across our beautiful city and surrounding areas. This is a self-guided tour where you get to meet each artist in their home or shared studio space, and you can plan your visit at your own pace. The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a unique, informal, connected art experience for both the public and the artists. You are invited into artists studios to see beyond their finished work; to have an opportunity to learn more about their creative processes, inspirations and personal stories. Ask questions, sign up for a raffle, purchase art if you like and most of all, enjoy building connections with your local artists. Admission is FREE!

We are also pleased to announce that the Calgary Artists Studio Tour is now featured in the FREE hand-held app, Toureka, that can be easily downloaded onto your phone for easy directions to artists’ studios here: https://www.calgaryartistsstudiotour.com/ .

The artists participating are a diverse mix and you will find visual art, sculpture, fibre art, photography and more! You will encounter a wide range of styles from realism to abstract and everything in-between. You will discover art in multiple mediums - choose what YOU want to see and learn about. We welcome the conversation!

Tour Dates and Times:

May 3   2 - 8 pm

May 4 - 10 - 4 pm

May 5 - 10 - 4 pm

Copyright © 1999 - 2024 T2 Media Inc. All rights reserved.

Donate to Galleries West

Support the arts and make a lasting impact by donating to Galleries West. Whether you choose a monthly contribution or a one-time gift, your support helps us spotlight emerging talent, deliver inspiring stories, and sustain the vibrant creative community across Western Canada. Together, we can ensure that art continues to thrive and inspire for generations to come.

Calgary Artists Studio Tour

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Meet local artists at the Calgary Artists Studio Tour

Artists from Airdrie to Okotoks are welcoming people to come meet them at their working studios from Friday May 3rd to Sunday May 5th for the third annual Calgary Artists Studio Tour.

Artist and organizer Isabel Ostrom says the event started three years ago with 12 artists and has grown in 2024 to 82 artists in 63 locations.

"The idea is actually to build a connection the artists community and the public community in Calgary and surrounding areas," she said. "There are a number of really great artists in the community that are not necessarily in art galleries, a lot of them work out of their home and they might sell in community shows or online and they also sell in galleries."

Ostrom says the tour showcases emerging artists who are new on the art scene as well as well-established, award-winning artists. The goal of the three day event is to foster connections by meeting artists in their environment and increase awareness of the arts in Calgary.

"They're invited in to have a conversation with the artist," said Ostrom. "They're able to find out about their creative inspirations and their techniques and they also have an opportunity to purchase art.

"People are always kind of surprised that they can come into someone's home," Ostrom added. "I think Calgary doesn't have a history of having studio tours so we in a way, we have to educate people what it's all about."

Located in homes and garages

Artists studios are located in their homes or garages, while some rent warehouse space in commercial buildings and organizers say each one offers a different experience for the visiting public.

Lindsay Walsh is a mixed media artist who enjoys working in layers.

"I love a feeling of place," she said. "I like a story to come through the art and I'm really enamored with Art Nouveau and that kind of period of change."

Walsh is a retired ballet artist and dancer and realized she needed to keep busy and turned to art. She's excited to be participating in her first art tour.

"We don't know if we'll be busy, I mean, we could have five people and we could have 500 -- who knows?" she said. "It's a great opportunity and I don't feel pressured to sell at the open house that we're having, I think it's more about getting people to know who you are maybe to follow you create that interest and if you've got some work that's ready and someone wants to take it home great, but I haven't felt with the other artists that it's about selling."

'Great conversations'

Mary-Jo Lough agrees. She's an abstract artist and is one of the original 12 that started the tour.

"I want to see a lot of people come in and have a lot of great conversations, I'd like to add more people to my email list so that I can stay in contact with them long term," she said. "It's a bonus if I sell a ton of work but my main goal is to have the great conversations and ongoing conversations."

Lough describes her style as colourful and busy, with lots of patterns. She says she's harnessing the inner chaos of her mind as an individual with ADHD.

"Other people can be inspired by nature and all sorts of things, whereas I find my work is very intuitive and it comes from within," she said. "Therefore, when I hear what other people have to say about my work, it helps me understand it in ways other than just my own and it's wonderful just to have more people's eyes on your work."

Lough says the Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a way to get to know an artist personally and build a connection with them and their work in a comfortable environment.

"Everybody tends to love art to a different degree, however a lot of people are very intimidated to go into an art gallery or museum," she said. "Whereas when you go into one single artist space, you don't have this fancy gallery, you may not feel that same intimidation, it's a lot more personal and a lot more relaxed so the average person can go in and you don't feel like you need to act a certain way or dress a certain way or speak a certain way so that's a really good thing as well."

The tour is free and begins Friday, May 3 from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., then Saturday and Sunday May 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Learn more about it here .

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Calgary Artists Studio Tour

This is the third year of the Calgary Artists Studio Tour and we have expanded to over 80 local artists participating across our beautiful city and surrounding areas. This is a self-guided tour where you get to meet each artist in their home or shared studio space, and you can plan your visit at your own pace. The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a unique, informal, connected art experience for both the public and the artists. You are invited into artists studios to see beyond their finished work; to have an opportunity to learn more about their creative processes, inspirations and personal stories. Ask questions, sign up for a raffle, purchase art if you like and most of all, enjoy building connections with your local artists. Admission is free!

We are also pleased to announce that the Calgary Artists Studio Tour is now featured in the free hand-held app, Toureka, that can be easily downloaded onto your phone for easy directions to artists’ studios here: https://link.toureka.app/CAST. Our map is also on our website.

The artists participating are a diverse mix and you will find visual art, sculpture, fibre art, photography and more! You will encounter a wide range of styles from realism to abstract and everything in-between. You will discover art in multiple mediums – choose what YOU want to see and learn about. We welcome the conversation!

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• Outlook Live

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‘Everyday is filled with much beauty and joy, it’s a gift’: Calgary Art Studio Tour to give visitors inside look into fine art

Creating fine art is often a solitary process, and one that many Calgarians never get to see up close and personally.

From May 3 through 5, 82 artists across Calgary and the metropolitan region are opening the doors to their studios in the the third annual Calgary Artists Studio Tour, inviting visitors to see firsthand how art is made—and maybe buy a few works as well.

The goal of the tour said Isabel Ostrom, one of the co-organizers, is to create a conversation between local artists and the greater Calgary community.

“We want to invite people into our studios so they can see how artists work day-to-day. It gives people an opportunity to spend a longer period of time with an artist rather than just walking through a gallery, and feeling kind of intimidated by the gallery,” she said.

“You can have an extended conversation and find out what inspires the artist and maybe learn about their techniques and also have an opportunity to purchase art.”

The opportunity to let someone into their personal home studio is a way to let the public experience a more personal connection to art, said artist Sally McGregor, who is opening her Lakeview home to visitors over the weekend.

“I think it’s really important because art lovers love culture, and they like to see that artists are being viable in their careers,” she said.

“That’s so important because we work alone most of the time, and it’s great to see the public come in and talk to us and see what we do. Talk a little bit about the process of what we do. See materials and the media that we use. It just brings a fresh group of people in that you might not otherwise see in other venues.”

That connection also extends to other artists said Ostrom, who will be opening her Varsity home studio over the weekend for the tour.

“When other people have come in past years, I’ve gotten a number of artists who really want to pick your brain about your technique. Other artists are very curious about the way other artists studios are set up,” said Ostrom.

Not set up like an art show

McGregor, who spent 30 years as an art teacher, said that the tour was an important way to engage youth in arts culture—even when that might not always be the perception of what is available in the city.

“People say, ‘well, Calgary, doesn’t have any of the arts,’ but we do. There’s a vibrant community of musicians, of acting, and the fine arts,” she said.

An advantage of the tour, said Ostrom, is that it’s a self-directed way of seeing art over three days that is far less formal than a traditional art showing.

“It’s really, really important because typically people when they think of Calgary, it’s a sporting town or the oil and gas town, or whatever, and arts aren’t really the first thing that come to people’s mind when they think about Calgary,” she said.

“I think that this event has the potential to become a flagship ship event for Calgary, and so I think it’s really important to let people know that there are just tons of artists, and Calgary has so many amazing artists in their community.”

Over the past three years, the tour has grown substantially. From an initial 12 artists in 2022, to 39 last year, to 82 this year at 63 different locations.

Visitors wanting to join the tour can view an interactive map of locations at www.calgaryartistsstudiotour.com , or use the Toureka app to have a location-to-location map with directions.

“Another reason why we have it over three days as well because some people might want to like really want to see an artist, but they don’t have the time to do it on Friday night, so they can go on Sunday,” said Ostrom.

Local art defies expectations

One of the other advantages of the tour, said McGregor, was the low-pressure way that art buyers can get to see a lot of different art.

“I’ve always sold my work from my studio. I don’t belong to galleries. I just believe that people will come to you if you present a nice space and an opportunity to come and look at the work with no pressure to buy.”

Artist Lindsay Walsh, who along with Nadine Johnson and Lenore Gish are some of the artists presenting together at Shedpoint over the weekend, said that Calgarians would be surprised what they could find for very reasonable prices during the tour.

“These kinds of events that we have, let them know that they can have an original piece of art and get to know the artist and have a relationship with that person, basically for a similar price to what they pay in a big box store for mass-produced, large piece of paper,” said Walsh.

“It’s making it more attainable for people.”

But, said the trio, there was a hope that Calgarians taking part would take away something more emotional from the weekend.

For Johnson, who has returned to open her studio for a third year, said that is an understanding that art is good for people on more than just an aesthetic level.

“The pandemic, I think was pivotal. People really spent a lot of time in their own environments, and then learned that, or they were looking for things to bring joy and beauty into their world, so art became more important to them,” Johnson said.

“There is this wave of awareness being brought to art and how important it is in our lives. Not just for us, as you know or collectors to come and buy art, but for people to actually make art. You don’t have to be a fine artist, it could be just colouring or just sketching or playing with your kids and it could be 20 minutes a day. It’s super powerful and impactful.”

Gish said that it was actually the pandemic that brought her back to art, but that it was last year’s tour that led to to creating a whole new art series.

“Last time we did this, I had the inspiration—I don’t know where it came from—just to take photographs of the ladies that came to visit me, and it led to a show of portraiture of just ordinary people. And those are the faces that inspire me the most,” Gish said.

For Johnson, she said that opening up the world of art this weekend was a gift.

“We have the best forever job that there ever could be. Every day is filled with so much beauty and joy, it’s a gift. So if we can give a little bit of that back, it’s a win.”

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Charitable Choices: Jean Parker of the Calgary Artists Studio Tour

Jean Parker, a dedicated member of the Calgary Artists Studio Tour organizing committee, sheds light on their volunteer-run art collective. Born in 2022, the tour aims to fill the void of studio events in Calgary, spotlighting the city’s diverse and talented artists. Despite facing the post-COVID atmosphere, the tour successfully addresses the community’s need for connection. As awareness and participants grow yearly, the organizers seek to overcome shyness about visiting home studios and encourage public engagement. The Calgary public’s support is crucial; they can plan a tour, create buzz, and explore local art.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

Every member of our organizing committee has experience doing various types of volunteer work and each of us brings different skills to the table. Our committee is 100% volunteer-run. We do not have any paid staff. The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is technically an art collective. The participation fee and sponsorship dollars go towards basic things like website hosting, posters, flyers, social media advertising, app hosting etc.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Surprisingly in 2022, there were no studio tours in Calgary, a city of close to two million people! We have SO many talented artists and we wanted to create a weekend that spotlights them and creates a festival of art across the city. Each year we keep expanding. On the Calgary Artists Studio Tour weekend- We want the public to plan their route, grab their coffee and meet artists in their studios, talk art, ask questions, be amazed. We want to build community and have a conversation between the public and the artists, who are in each neighbourhood in Calgary and surrounding areas. We want to increase awareness about the visual arts in particular. Calgary is culturally diverse and there are many artists with different points of view, techniques, mediums and so on. Every artist will either be in their own studio or will be showing their studio processes in shared larger studio spaces with other artists.

When did you start/join it?

In 2022, I and 11 other artists piloted the Calgary Artists Studio Tour.

What made you want to get involved?

I felt there was a need we could meet in the community. We looked at other cities in Canada that have long-running and successful artist studio tours and wondered, why isn’t there something like this taking place in Calgary? We believe that the Calgary Artists Studio Tour has the potential to grow into a flagship event for our city, attracting not only locals but also tourists.

What was the situation like when you started?

Post Covid pandemic was the atmosphere we faced in 2022 and we were all looking for human connection. It was the right time to reach out to the community to create a studio tour to meet that need. By offering opportunities for personal, informal interactions between the public and local artists, we aim to provide a unique and meaningful experience that allows for a deeper understanding of an artist’s inspirations, creative process, and personal story.

How has it changed since?

The need for connection has not changed! Every year our number of participants is increasing, as is awareness of the tour. We feel there is a huge potential for growth.

What more needs to be done?

The Calgary public needs to be made aware of what a studio tour actually is. Because we do not have a local history of studio tours, many people just don’t know what they are all about! We have found that there is some shyness about going into artists’ home studios even though they have big, welcoming signs outside their doors advertising that they are to the public for this one weekend a year. We invite people in to see beyond the finished artwork – it provides an opportunity to learn more about artists’ creative processes, inspirations and personal stories.

We also are looking for title sponsors to help us build the event into what we believe it can be.

How can our readers help?

Your readers can help by getting to know the artists in their community during our tour! Book the date on their calendars. Go to our website, check out the artists participating this year, and plan their routes. We don’t have the final numbers yet – but there will be at least 60 artists participating. Talk to your friends and family about making a day of it or go bold and plan 3 days of tours! We need your readers to create the buzz to grow public participation. Look for the app on our website that will be available before the tour that will make their planning simple. And, if they know of a sponsor who would like to get involved, drop me a line here .

Do you have any events coming up?

The third annual Calgary Artists Studio Tour takes place in Calgary and surrounding areas on May 3rd (2 pm-8 pm), 4th (10 am-4 pm) and 5th (10 am-4 pm).

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Too many to pick from- that is why I volunteer with the United Way and the organizations they support.

• Calgary Artists Studio Tour
• charitable choices
• volunteering

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Home / Classified Ads / Open Calls / Call to Artists / Second Annual Calgary Artists Studio Tour 2023

Second Annual Calgary Artists Studio Tour 2023

Classified Categories: Archived

March 30, 2023

Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a collective of artists supporting each other to raise awareness that artists live and work all around you!

CAST aspires to create meaningful connections between the general public and artists in Calgary and the surrounding regions.

Our goal is to create an annual art weekend that is vibrant and exciting, which displays the range and depth of artistic ability in Calgary and the surrounding areas.

Through this endeavour, artists are provided with the opportunity to connect with new potential collectors and offered the chance for meaningful connections between the public and local artists.

Now accepting artist applications!

Artist Application Deadline: April 15, 2023 at Midnight

Artist Studio Tour Dates:

• Friday, May 26, 2023,  2 – 8pm
• Saturday, May 27, 2023, 10am – 4pm
• Sunday, May 28, 2023, 10am – 4pm

For more information and to apply, visit calgaryartistsstudiotour.com .

To follow us, visit our Instagram platform at calgaryartistsstudiotour .

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] .

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Classifieds, our commitment to equity, our commitment to indigenous reconciliation, racial equity, disability justice, and gender and sexual diversity..

We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.

We acknowledge that there has been art, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony on this land since time immemorial and it is in the spirit of this land and its people that we do our work.

Please see our full Commitment to Equity , including the sections on our aspirations, accountability, current initiatives and EDIA history.

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