Over 275 Artists and Creative Work Spaces will Open their Doors to Visitors over Four Weekends

The Fall 2016 Artist Open Studio Tours features hundreds of local artists in a newly expanded multiple geographic weekend format throughout all of Southern Arizona. New technology platforms feature interactive Open Studio Tour maps,
and more online resources for visitors attending the tours.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona and the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance partner to present the Fall Open Studio Tour Season. 
 
The Fall Open Studio Tour in Southern Arizona is one of the largest self-guided tours of artist studios and creative work spaces in the region, featuring four weekends showcasing  artists, and local creative businesses from across Southern Arizona. Over 275 individual artists and artist groups will participate in the record setting Open Studio Tours expanded multi-weekend format. 

We invite the community to get out and see art at work in Southern Arizona.  Hundreds of artists will open their doors to the public to showcase their talent, creativity and vibrant workspaces of the artists that work and live here. This free self-guided tours will draw thousands of visitors, from all walks of life, to explore the neighborhood studios, learn about art, shop and engage in art in a spectacularly dynamic fashion. 
 
Visit the participating artists in their homes and studios - as independently unique as the individual artwork created within, whether it's glass blowing, photography, painting, sculpture or wood carving and pottery, you won't want to miss a single opportunity to visit these artist spaces.  Many artists will feature live music and other activities within their spaces in addition to artist demonstrations and featured art.

The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance has made it easier than ever for the community to access these artist spaces, with online interactive maps, as well as print at home maps.
  
Information on artist demonstrations, directions to the open studios, as well as artist mediums and sample work can be found online at www.openstudiotours.com.
 
The season encompasses communities across Southern Arizona and takes place the last two weekends in October and the first two weekends in November.  

* Weekend #1: October 22 & 23 North, Northwest & West Communities
* Weekend #2: October 29 & 30 Central & Midtown Tucson
* Weekend #3: November 5 & 6 East & Foothills Communities
* Weekend #4: November 12 & 13 Downtown & South Communities

The 2016 Fall Open Studio Tours is proud to collaborate with local organized tours Art Trails, Heart of Tucson Art (HOTA) and Tucson Artists' Open Studio Tours on the 2016 schedule of Open Studio Tours.  
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Mission of the Open Studio Tours
The Open Studio Tour mission is to support and promote local artists who work and exhibit in Southern Arizona-- inspiring and enriching our growing cultural community.
 
The Fall Open Studio Tour season is supported with grant monies from the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona and presented by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA). 
 
 "As a funding agency, we seek to find and fund the best artists and/or art organizations for projects that will continue to highlight and enrich our region's sense of place and culture," said The Art Foundation's Executive Director Debi Chess Mabie. "SAACA's expertise in presenting these artists and art organizations through community events made this fall's tour season a natural collaboration. We are thrilled to grant them $10,000 to produce the Open Studio Tours event."
 
Kate Marquez, SAACA's Executive Director, looks forward to the partnership. "The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance is proud to collaborate with the Arts Foundation and local artists for Tucson and Southern Arizona, to support, and advance the Open Studio Tours throughout our region, and provide resources for hundreds of local artists to showcase, develop and promote their original artwork in the community," said Marquez. "SAACA truly believes that our collective impact will only continue to grow when our creative community comes together to collaborate on these types of projects."