Sedona News – The Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition (SVAC) is pleased to announce the return of its annual Spring Open Studios Tour, taking place over the weekend of April 26-28, 2024. Featuring 50 working artists across the Verde Valley, this beloved event offers attendees the opportunity to visit with the artists in their studios, gain firsthand insight into how they create their artwork and purchase one-of-a-kind items. Named one of the area’s top art events by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the Tour – which is always free to the public – is self-guided and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
“For the visitor, Open Studios invites the artwork to speak much more intimately to them as it provides an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the creative process,” said Mike Upp, a clay artist and co-chair of the Open Studios Tour. “A major appeal of such an experience is the chance to buy gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, locally produced artwork directly from the artist. The wide range of styles, quality and art forms on display during the Tour is a testament to the thriving vitality of the arts community in Sedona and the beautiful Verde Valley.”
Encompassing Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Cornville, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and Clarkdale, the Open Studios Tour has experienced astounding growth over the years. Participating artists specialize in a wide variety of mediums, including glass, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, weaving, mixed media, digital painting and more, allowing attendees to learn about the creation of their favorite types of art or explore a new medium.
“As SVAC continually strives to provide the best possible Tour experience, we are limiting the number of physical studios to 31 this year, while maintaining the number of exhibiting artists at 50, to make it easier for visitors to see more artists with less driving,” said Upp. “This decision is the direct result of feedback from visitors in the past.”
Tour attendees will have the opportunity to enter a studio-wide drawing for a $250 gift certificate to be used at a studio of their choice. To participate in the drawing, attendees must simply complete a form at any studio on the Tour. By entering, they will automatically be signed up to receive email announcements from SVAC Art Events.
Brochures with a complete list of participating artists, including a map, will be available approximately two weeks before the Tour. A list of places where the maps can be found will be available at the SVAC website, https://sedonaartistscoalition.org, around the same time. This website currently has a full listing of the participating artists, along with their mediums and studio locations.
The Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of professional and emerging artists from Sedona and the entire Verde Valley. Its core mission is to create a supportive visual arts community that provides both exploratory and social opportunities. The organization fosters interest in the visual arts by encouraging both artists and the community through education, exhibitions and the Spring Open Studios Tour – unique events that provide in-depth learning experiences in the arts for both residents and visitors. For more information, please contact Mike Upp at mjupp10@gmail.com or 503.789.4437.