Open Studios of Washington County Biennial
Open Studios of Washington County is a juried biennial that showcases the finest professional artists in Washington County, NY.
Serena Kovalosky tapped into the cultural wealth of the region and co-founded Open Studios of Washington County in 2005 with ceramic artist Brenda McMahon, long before there were any other Open Studios in the region. The first tour took place in 2007.
“I wanted to showcase the top professional artists of the region and give them an opportunity to sell their work directly from their studios,” says Kovalosky, “We worked hard to make sure our publicity reflected that this was an opportunity for visitors to buy art, rather than just “tour” the studios.” The event was featured in Professional Artist Magazine as an excellent example of art marketing.
The Open Studios of Washington County Biennial has become the visual arts cornerstone for the region, drawing collectors and art-lovers from throughout New York and New England. It has been a substantial generator of tourism and art sales, insuring the rich artistic tradition of the area will continue to thrive. The 2017 Open Studios broke the six-figure mark, earning over $100,000 in art revenue over the weekend.
“[Open Studios of Washington County] has found a way to make its studio tour a driver for fine art sales instead of just a scenic drive to the country.”
Ligaya Figueras, Professional Artist Magazine
Art-Calendar-Magazine-Nov-2010_2
________________________________________________________
A selection of articles on the Open Studios:
If You Host an Open Studios, Main Street (2007)
Art Amid the Farms, Hill Country Observer (2007)
Studio Tour Bring the Bucks, Professional Artist Magazine (2010)
An Artful Weekend, The Daily Gazette (2011)
Art is the Way to Market Washington County, The Post Star (2017)
