Thanksgiving Studio Tour

Access

About

The Gabriola Arts Council (GAC) welcomes you to the 29th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour, the longest running arts event on Gabriola. It all began in a small living room, where a group of artists decided to organize the first studio tour, then called the Gallery Tour, by Festival Gabriola. Now, over 1500 people visit studios over the long weekend. This year, 48 studios, plus Tour Central, open their doors to you and yours. Artists work all year in preparation for Studio Tour. Some studios become galleries; some create outdoor experiences; some invite you to the artist’s own kitchen table. You will find art of all kinds on your self-guided tour: drawings, paintings, collage, sculpture, prints, ceramics, woodwork, textiles, metalwork, and more.

There are artists on the Tour today who took part in that very first Gallery Tour! Many artists come and go over the years, some years on and some years taking a rest, and we are always excited to welcome new artists to the Tour. Seek out the new artists on Tour, as well as your favourites. You never know what new favourites you will find! . You’ll also want to pay attention to who is giving demonstrations because there is nothing quite like seeing creativity in action and saying to yourself, “So that’s how they do that!” Beyond all of the amazing creativity you will take in, Tour is an opportunity for incredible conversations, both with the hosting artists, and with other Tour goers from all over Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, the world.

Tour kicks off with an opening party at Tour Central on Thursday October 9, from 7-9 pm. Tour Central is open Friday-Monday from 10 am - 5 pm. Studios are open from 10 am - 5 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and many are open year round. Don’t hesitate to contact them for their studio hours if you miss them during the official Tour dates.

Links

• Gabriola Arts Council Thanksgiving Studio Tour Webpage artsgabriola.ca
• The Arts on Gabriola Artist Directory theartsongabriola.ca

Organizer

Gabriola Arts Council

The Gabriola Arts Council (GAC) has been supporting the arts on Gabriola Island for almost 30 years. Gabriola – a rural community with a high proportion of professional artists – ranks sixth across Canada for concentration of artists in the workforce. Artists are key to the island’s cultural, economic, and social fabric. GAC aims to support artists and increase accessibility of the arts for people of all ages, both residents and visitors.

GAC’s core programs include this Thanksgiving Studio Tour; the Isle of the Arts Festival, a spring festival of hands-on arts-based workshops and events; and Cultivate, a summer festival of music and performing arts. GAC also offers the Healing Power of Art, where community is engaged in programming for health and well-being through art. GASP!, the Gabriola Artist Support Program, offers grants to artists for the pursuit of creative projects and learning opportunities. Breaking Bannock – Building Bridges is a stream of ongoing programming providing opportunities for shared learning experiences with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Coast Salish, and other Indigenous and global cultures. In all that we offer, we strive to enhance island life through meaningful experiences.