I regret to inform artists and artisans in Tucson that the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona will NOT be hosting a spring artists’ Open Studios in 2025. In December, I spoke to David Gaxiola, Program Coordinator at the Arts Foundation. He told me that the Arts Foundation would not be sponsoring Spring Open Studios because staff members there are working an an app to be downloaded that will make it easier for everyone to find individual studios.
Frankly, I don’t understand this. There are eleven staff members at the Arts Foundation. They are all too busy to organize a Spring Open Studios tour? Really? About the app, I wonder about the necessity for an app, given that Google is happy to give you a red bubble on a map when you put in an address.
Open Studios has been a problem for Tucson artists for nearly ten years, mainly after Debi Chess Mabie departed as director of the Arts Foundation. Attempts were made by local artists to organize area Open Studios, chief among them Heart of Tucson Art (HotArt), which provided a website and detailed information about participating artists in midtown Tucson. See the HotArt logo on the left designed by Lynne East-Itkin.
Unfortunately, when Mabie left, the Arts Foundation turned Open Studios over to SAACA (Southern Arizona Arts and Culture Foundation). The director there made a concerted effort to have complete control over Open Studios, and in the process, provided no support for groups like HotArt. SAACA didn’t last long organizing Open Studios, and this twice-yearly art event made its way back to the Arts Foundation. However, the Arts Foundation has long been focused primarily on public art. Open Studios has never been a top priority, which probably explains why we won’t be having a Spring Open Studios in 2025. Too bad.
Unfortunately, when Mabie left, the Arts Foundation turned Open Studios over to SAACA (Southern Arizona Arts and Culture Foundation). The director there made a concerted effort to have complete control over Open Studios, and in the process, provided no support for groups like HotArt. SAACA didn’t last long organizing Open Studios, and this twice-yearly art event made its way back to the Arts Foundation. However, the Arts Foundation has long been focused primarily on public art. Open Studios has never been a top priority, which probably explains why we won’t be having a Spring Open Studios in 2025. Too bad.
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