Somerville Open Studios

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Somerville Open Studios was born in the winter of 1999 when two Somerville artists, Jonathan Derry and Laura Fayer, decided that there was a need for a city wide open studio event that could provide a venue for artists working out of their homes and small studio buildings, as well as those in larger and established buildings, to exhibit their work to the public. After placing a call to artists throughout the city, an inaugural planning committee was formed to organize the first annual Somerville Open Studios to take place during the first weekend of May that year. SOS 1999 featured just over 80 artists exhibiting at 25 sites throughout the city.

In the seven years since, SOS has grown to become one of the largest events of its kind in the greater Boston area with over 300 participating artists displaying their work every spring. In 2001 we introduced the first SOS online artist directory to allow visitors to better plan their tour by previewing artist work online. In 2002 the first Artists’ Choice exhibit was held at the Somerville Museum to give visitors a further opportunity to see a wide selection of Somerville artists’ work in a single venue.

In 2004 Somerville Open Studios became a Massachusetts non-profit organization established for the purpose of providing access to artists and exposing the public to the wide variety of art-making activities taking place in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.

While experiencing steady growth, we have strove to keep the event inclusive and diverse. In this spirit, we welcome artists who are exhibiting for the first time to show next to established professionals. We work hard to make a place for artists working out of their home studios as well as those who are part of large studio buildings. While doing this we continue to look for new ways to build community and make connections between visual artists and the people of Somerville.

Past Directors

2007 - Mary Curtin

2006 - Audra Ladd

2005 - Ilona Fried

2004 - Meghan Moore

2003 - Suzi Weber

2002, 2001 - Matt Carrano

2000 - Matt Carrano & Nancy Fulton

1999 - Jonathan Derry & Laura Fayer