The Chatham-Kent Arts Council (CKAC) has opened the application process for those wanting to take part in the 2026 Artist Studio Tour.
The event is a chance to let the community get an intimate look at arts practitioners' creative processes and experience their creative spaces.
"The CKAC's mandate is to encourage community interaction with arts and culture in all its forms, and to nurture CK's creative community," said CKAC Board Chair Laurie Langford. "This signature event creates a unique environment where people can get face-to-face with the creatives who enliven our region."
Local artist and Chair of Artist Studio Tour Committee Vicki McFarland is in agreement, saying that the tour pulls back the curtain on a number of different disciplines.
"The depth of talent and vibrancy of Chatham-Kent's creative and cultural community are well-kept secrets," McFarland said.
This will be the fourth anniversary of the Artist Studio Tour, and the arts council hopes that more artists and studios will participate than ever.
"On past Tours, we've had great representation from people working in visual arts - potters, painters, wood, glass and stained glass, and mosaic," said Eva Marie Clarke, CKAC's Executive Director, adding that they're hoping for more variety by expanding the definition of the word artist.
"Most people think 'painter' when they hear the word [artist] but it really encompasses people creating in all the artistic disciplines," Clarke explained. "This year, we want to see applications from performing artists, dancers, musicians, writers, spinners and weavers, film makers, digital and gaming creators… the culinary arts even fit in the description. Basically, if you have a space and want to share with the public, please apply."
Clarke shared that the whole point of the tour is to connect the community to arts and culture in Chatham-Kent. "The arts underpin everything from the clothes we wear and the recipes we make to the shows we stream and the games we play. The Tour highlights this and underscores the part our arts and culture community plays in defining our identity as a region, a province, and a country," she said.
Those who plan to attend the tour can expect demonstrations and a chance to ask questions, share thoughts, and learn the stories behind the area's artists and their work.
Applications will be accepted online at the CK Arts Council website. The application fee is $25.
This year's tour takes place on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31.
