More Than 150 Artist Studios Open Their Doors East of Broad This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA — More than 150 artist studios and creative workspaces will open to the public this weekend for the second half of Philadelphia Open Studio Tours.

The free self-guided tour runs Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, from noon to 6 p.m., covering neighborhoods east of Broad Street, according to the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, which presents the event.

Open studios dot Center City East, South Kensington and Fishtown, North Philadelphia, Northern Liberties, Old City, Port Richmond, Northeast Philadelphia, Queen Village, Bella Vista and South Philadelphia.

The first weekend, Oct. 10–11, covered studios west of Broad, from Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy to West Philadelphia. Together the two weekends span more than 26 neighborhoods.

Visitors can watch artists at work in active studios, see live demonstrations and browse paintings, ceramics, photographs, mixed media and metalwork. Some spaces host hands-on workshops, exhibitions, artist talks and receptions.

There is no set route. Red balloons and POST signs mark participating studios, and free printed tour directories are available at participating locations and Free Library branches.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is among the participating sites, opening its studio floors, printmaking and papermaking shops and the Brodsky Center to visitors, according to PAFA.

Organizers describe the tour as the largest self-guided open studio event of its kind in the country, and one of the premier ways to meet the people behind Philadelphia’s art scene.