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Greenville Open Studios is an annual event that opens the studios of local visual artists to the public. Now entering its 20th year, Greenville Open Studios began as an idea cast about during a casual conversation between a small group of artists; they discussed doing something to raise awareness in the greater community of the tremendous creative energy in the area. The idea has evolved into a full-fledged annual event.

The 2021 self-guided tour will feature 139 artists and their studios. 96 studio locations vary throughout a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville with Easley, Greer, Travelers Rest and Simpsonville included. Open Studios catalogues for 2021 can be found in various retail locations by the middle of October, in the November 5th edition of The Greenville Journal and in various retail locations throughout the Greenville area. 

The goals of Greenville Open Studios are to provide free and convenient community access to visual arts, to educate and create a dialogue between artists and the general public by opening artists’ places of work and inviting the community-at-large to participate in the creative process and to create new marketing opportunities for artists. It is the organizers’ desire that the project will open up the world of visual artists to everyone – from the seasoned collector to the first-time art buyer to the curious general public.

Get the App 2021 Artists 2021 Sponsors

Greenville Open Studio 2021

Video produced by Summit Film Co

Objectives of Greenville Open Studios

  • To provide an educational experience to the entire community by inviting the general public to experience the life of local artists at work in the studio environment by giving people the chance to learn about the artistic process as well as sources of artistic inspiration.
  • To give the artists an opportunity to market their work to the local community.
  • To enhance the experience of collecting art by helping people to begin art collections or enhance existing ones.
  • To create greater awareness of the diversity and quality of local visual arts among the general public.

Resources

Virtual Catalogue

The 2021 Open Studios catalogue will feature contact information, directions, maps and more! Catalogues will be available in all of the artists’ studios, in various retail locations around town and in the November 5th edition of the Greenville Journal.

Greenville Open Studios Exhibit

Visit the MAC Gallery to see, the 12 x 12 exhibit, a sampling of the works by the Greenville Open Studios 2021 artists. The exhibit will be up from November 6 - December 13. The exhibit provides another opportunity to see the artists’ works.

The App

The app is accessible for all smart phone devices. Search artists by medium and wheelchair accessibility. Choose and create a map of your favorites and travel to the studios through Google Maps. This year you can also view a video of each of the artist’s studios as well as their individual hours and contact info for appointments.

2021 Sponsors

The Board of Directors and staff of the Metropolitan Arts Council and the 139 participating artists would like to thank those businesses and individuals for making Greenville Open Studios 2021possible for Greenville’s visual artists. We appreciate their commitment to the arts in Greenville and look forward to working with them in the future. A big round of applause to the following for ensuring the success of Greenville Open Studios.

  • Event Hours

    Sneak Preview: Saturday, November 6 | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (select artist only)

    Saturday, November 13 | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

    Sunday, November 14 | Noon - 6:00 p.m.

  • How it works

    Choose artists you would like to visit by using the website, catalogue or app. Plan out your weekend beforehand or travel studio to studio based on who is nearby on the map. 

    Greenville Open Studios is a FREE and self-guided tour. Artists will welcome you into their studio spaces which may be in their home. Look forward to discovering new parts of Greenville, discovering the behind the scenes magic of how art is created and having wonderful conversation with creative and talented people!

  • 12 x 12 Exhibit Hours

    November 6 - December 10, 2021

    The Greenville Open Studios 2021 exhibit is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and during the hours of Open Studios and the Preview day.

  • COVID-19

    We ask that you please wear a mask to all studios. 

  • Saturday November 6 Sneak Preview

    Artists who are marked with an orange "P" in the app or "Preview Sat Nov 6" in the catalogue will be open Saturday, November 6 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. as well as the full open studios hours the following weekend.