The tour is free and self-guided.

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a self-guided experience that allows the public to explore the studios of local artists at their own pace. 

Using the TOUREKA app, you can browse through a comprehensive list of participating artists, view their work, and learn about their creative processes. The app also allows you to create a personalized route by selecting your favorite artists, making it easy to plan your day and visit the studios that interest you most. Simply download the app, choose your favorites, and start your artistic adventure across Calgary!

Go to the Meet the Artists page and choose the year you're interested in. The most current year offers detailed descriptions of each artist with samples of their work, links to their websites and social media. Click HERE to check them out. Additionally, you can find all of this information on the TOUREKA! app.

Starting in 2024 the Calgary Artists Studio began using the TOUREKA! app to list all of our artists and make it easy for the public to choose their favorites and create a self-guided map. Here is a link for a video about how to use TOUREKA!

The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is different from an art market primarily because it focuses on providing an intimate experience where attendees can interact directly with artists in their own studios. While art markets are typically centered around selling artworks in a designated area, the studio tour allows visitors to see where the art is created and learn about the artistic process firsthand.

Additionally, the tour emphasizes education and connection, featuring opportunities for discussions, demonstrations, and insights into the inspirations behind the work. This experiential aspect fosters a deeper appreciation for art and creates lasting relationships between artists and the community, making it a unique and enriching experience compared to traditional art markets.

Our committee consists of local artists who volunteer their time to provide emerging and professional artists with opportunities to gain visibility and engage with the community in the Calgary area. See who’s on the committee!

Please contact us through the CONTACT PAGE or email the committee at hello@calgaryartiststudiotour.com

Artists must be available to participate during all listed hours and days of the event.

All artists applying for the Calgary Artists Studio Tour (CAST) are required to participate for all three days during the listed hours of the tour. Friday from 2pm to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. This ensures a consistent and enriching experience for all participants and is vital for the creation of our marketing materials and maps. 

Art enthusiasts planning to attend expect the studios to be open during these times, often traveling long distances to enjoy the event. By working together, we can ensure a positive experience for visitors and support our fellow artists. 

It’s not just Calgary – it’s Calgary & area!

We warmly welcome artists from outside Calgary to participate if their primary studio is within a 50km radius of Calgary City Centre. Each participating artist must have their regular home base within this radius, even if collaborating with others and/or using an alternate location for the tour.

Locations within 50Km of Calgary’s center: Cochrane, Bearspaw, Airdrie, Crossfield, Balzac, Chestermere, Langdon, Indus, Strathmore, Okotoks, De Winton, Priddis, Millarville, Bragg Creek. 

Safety First!

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience during the CAST event, please verify your home or business insurance includes the necessary coverage for this occasion. By completing the Artist Application and agreeing to the liability waiver, you acknowledge your responsibility to have the appropriate insurance in place for the duration of the tour. This helps us create a safe environment while allowing the CAST committee to focus on celebrating the arts!

Collaborating Artists

Artists are welcome to collaborate with other artists in a single location for the tour! If you're teaming up with another artist, please keep in mind the following requirements for participation:

- Each artist must complete the application and pay the $50 fee by the March 15th deadline

- Each artist's primary studio must be within a 50km radius of downtown Calgary.

Artists are encouraged to showcase their creative practice (through video, progress pieces, live painting, etc.) to help fulfill CAST’s mission of offering a unique and meaningful experience that allows tour-goers deeper insight into your artistic process.

We look forward to celebrating your collaboration and creativity!

Artist Website

An artist website is a vital tool for creatives as it allows you to showcase your work, market to new audiences, gain a following, and make connections and sales.  CAST aims to build relationships between professional artists and the public, and having a website helps achieve this goal.

Artist Social Media Account

To enhance your visibility as an artist, it’s essential to have a dedicated Instagram or Facebook account focused solely on your art practice. Please note that personal accounts or alternate business accounts, even if you occasionally post your art, will not be accepted. 

Our CAST volunteers are here to support you with marketing graphics, engaging reels, and posts to share, along with helpful wording for your newsletters. Together, through collaboration and co-promotion, we can effectively spread the word about the exciting CAST event and reach a wider audience!

What Does CAST Consider a Home Studio or Creative Space?

At CAST, a "home studio" doesn't have to be a formal space. We understand that many artists work from various locations, whether it's a kitchen table, a corner of a room, or anywhere else that inspires creativity— and that's perfectly fine! To showcase your status as an active artist on the CAST tour, we encourage you to set up a small “working space,” complete with a demo or display of your artistic practice. This setup is a wonderful opportunity to spark conversations about your creative process and share your passion with visitors!

- Your artist profile on the “Meet the Artists” page of the CAST website, posted until the end of the calendar year. After that your name with a link to your website will remain.

- Your artist profile on the TOUREKA! app

- Regular contact with the planning committee via email

- Comprehensive private reference area on the website offering everything you need in  one place

- Marketing materials including postcards and posters

- Invitation to artist networking events

- Free virtual (Zoom) training leading up to the CAST weekend

- Introduction to "new to you" collectors

- 100% of the proceeds from your art studio sales over the event

Marketing package including:

- Backlink "Do Follow" to your website and social media profiles

- “Do Follow” links are links that point back to your website for human eyes, Google and other search engines to crawl (view).  Do Follow links increase page rank of your website and help push your site further up to first page of google searches. Do follow links are part of any great websites’ organic search strategy.

- Social media marketing graphics to use on your accounts

- Paid marketing 

- Promotion through the CAST social media accounts for a full year

No, we are welcoming artists of all kinds, for example; print makers, jewelers, sculptors, and photographers. As long as you're able to demonstrate parts your process.

Applications are open January 15th, 2025 and close March 15th, 2025.

We strongly recommend using signage to guide drivers and pedestrians from key entry points in your neighborhood. Effective signage significantly improves the ability of visitors to locate your location during the self-guided tour. Attendees feel more comfortable knocking at your door when there is a sign in the yard welcoming them. 

You may buy as many signs as you think are necessary to successfully direct attendees to your address. Purchase quantities are unlimited, however, sign orders close on March 22nd, 2025. 

Each CAST sign includes a base that can be secured in the ground. The signage is intended to be used annually, with an addendum for altered dates and hours.

Signs will be ready for pickup one week prior to the event. To keep costs down, signs are purchased in bulk for the event, and all artist participants will receive an email with pickup details.

We warmly welcome artists from outside Calgary to participate if their primary studio is within a 50km radius of Calgary City Centre. Each participating artist must have their regular home base within this radius, even if collaborating with others and/or using an alternate location for the tour.

Locations within 50Km of Calgary’s center: Cochrane, Bearspaw, Airdrie, Crossfield, Balzac, Chestermere, Langdon, Indus, Strathmore, Okotoks, De Winton, Priddis, Millarville, Bragg Creek.

Your name, studio name, address, website, email address, social links, headshot and 3 artwork images provided as part of the application process will be published directly on the website and the “TOUREKA!” app. The week following the event your address will be removed from both the website & the “TOUREKA!” app.

In our inaugural year, 2022, we featured 12 artists, which grew to 39 artists in 2023, and over 80 in 2024! Our vision is for residents of Calgary and its surrounding areas to connect with artists and experience the vibrant art scene. We believe the possibilities for growth are limitless.

Artists applying for CAST must pay a non-refundable $50.00 fee by the application deadline.  The deadline to order signage is provided in your welcome email.

Signs cost $20 each, including the stand. Please ensure you order the correct quantity, as signs are ordered in bulk and are non-refundable after the deadline.

Get creative! Make your space welcoming to guests and make an impact with art enthusiasts and collectors. Working areas, studios and displayed artwork can be located together or in separate areas within the same address, but all spaces must be easily accessible to tour guests.

You do not need a formal studio to participate in CAST. We understand that many artists work from various spaces, such as the kitchen table or a corner of a room, and that’s perfectly fine. Just create a simple "working area" to showcase your practice and engage in conversation with visitors.

Collaborating with Other Artists:

Artists are welcome to collaborate with other artists in a single location for the tour! If you're teaming up with another artist, please keep in mind the following requirements for participation. 

- Each artist must complete the application and pay the $50 fee by the March 15th deadline

- Each artist's primary studio must be within a 50km radius of downtown Calgary.

- Artists are encouraged to showcase their creative practice (through video, progress pieces, live painting, etc.) to help fulfill CAST’s mission of offering a unique and meaningful experience that allows tour-goers deeper insight into your artistic process.

We look forward to celebrating your collaboration and creativity!

Co-Promotion

Co-promotion is respectfully requested and appreciated by CAST. Your assistance in co-promoting CAST, entails utilizing your social media platforms and email lists to create excitement and awareness around the event.

Draw prizes and/or giveaways

Why host a draw or giveaway? It’s a great way to increase your newsletter subscriber list. You can select a door prize, such as a painting, a pack of cards, or any other product, whether large or small. Every individual who signs up for your email newsletter will automatically be entered into the raffle to win the door prize.

Marketing materials and Signage

To guarantee a successful event, make sure to have clear signage and marketing materials (CAST postcards & posters will be provided) or self-marketing materials like business cards or brochures (not required, but a wise move) to further promote your brand and forge important connections!

Guestbooks

The tour is all about connection. This is an added touch you can include at your studio that personalizes someone’s experience and gives you a written testimonial to support the growth of CAST and your own art business.

Taking payments

It is recommended that customers be able to pay at the event using a Point of Sale (POS) system, though email transfers are also an option if receipts are provided. To guarantee a seamless and expert transaction process, make sure to have a payment system in place. Make sure to test your system before the event. 

Packaging

Personalized small touches matter, such as a sticker or a thank you card. If that is too much right now just make sure that your painting can make it safely to its forever home safely.

Support & Safety

Ensure you host a safe, and enjoyable event! CAST Artist participants have reported that visitors spend an average of 45 minutes at each location, engaging in relaxed conversations and appreciating your work. Tour enthusiasts typically include new collectors, neighbors from your community, fellow artists, and friends and family of all ages, creating a busy and enriching weekend for CAST artists.

It's essential to have support during tour hours. Having someone assist you can help maintain a safe environment, and help you handle payments, packaging purchases, and more. This support allows you to focus on making meaningful connections with visitors during the event.