Mission Statement

Portland Open Studios creates a unique educational opportunity for the public to witness the process of art in the making, learn about media and materials, and the business of creative endeavor. Through this interaction, participating artists reveal the complexity of their work and its involvement, relationship and value to the community.

The Board

Melissa Morris, President/Workshops,
Kindra Crick, Vice President/Managing Editor,
Bridget Benton, Treasurer,
Shu- Ju Wang, Secretary/IT Support,
Shawn Demarest, Member Services/Volunteer Coordinator,
Suzy Kitman, Sales/Distribution,
Allen Schmertzler, Education Coordinator,
Careen Stoll, Communications Chair,

In addition, there is one non-voting position:

Bonnie Meltzer,

For Our Artists

Portland Open Studios offers artists in the Portland metro area opportunities to showcase their work, engage a curious public, and network with other artists, all within a supportive environment. It's a unique educational organization that serves the community and helps artists meet their professional goals through workshops, publicity, exhibitions, and the open studios tour.

To receive a reminder as the next application deadline approaches, please join the Call to Artist Mailing List from our Home page. You will receive only two email messages from this list—one early February when Portland Open Studios is ready to accept applications, and a second one about 10 days before the application deadline.

A volunteer board works all year to produce the event, now celebrating our 10th Anniversary. The board continues to look for new opportunities to better serve our artists and the community.

Join The Board

Become a board member or committee chair; positions are available for both artists and non-artists.

Here's a description of board and chair responsibilities.

And here's the board application.

Studio Locations

Participating artists are in Portland, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Aloha, Lake Oswego, and West Linn.

Submission Policy

Application is due March 15 of the year. This is not a postmark date.

Professional artists of all media, race, and gender are encouraged to apply.

Application is by individual artist and not by studio. Artists who share one studio space must apply separately; artists who always work on the same objects as a team may submit both names on one application. One image and one listing will appear on the website and in the Tour Guide.

To receive a reminder as the next application deadline approaches, please join the Call to Artist Mailing List from our Home page. You will receive only two email messages from this list—one early February when Portland Open Studios is ready to accept applications, and a second one about 10 days before the application deadline.

To apply, please see the Apply page for instructions.

Artists Selection Process

Participating artists are selected by a panel of three independent artists and arts administrators. Returning artists will also be selected based on their fulfilling their participation requirements in previous years. Each year we invite a different group of jurors. The 2010 Jurors were Jef Gunn, Horatio Law, and Laura Russell

Kimberly Gales Scholarship

Kimberly Gales

Kimberly Gales Scholarship for Emerging Artists

Artists between the ages of 20 and 30 are eligible to apply for the scholarship to participate in Portland Open Studios. Applicants are juried with all other applying artists. A final selection is made from the artists who have been accepted into the tour.

We have been able to offer two scholarships to young artists each year since 2007.

Read about current and past scholarship winners here.

To apply for the Kimberly Gales Scholarship for Emerging Artists, please see the Apply page.

The scholarship was established to honor Kimberly Gales, 1948-2005, an accomplished watercolorist, successful businesswoman, and mother, Portland Open Studios artist and board member. Kim’s broadly creative spirit was evident in all aspects of her life. She brought wisdom, common sense, good humor, and unfailing dedication to her role as a Portland Open Studios board member. We are pleased to be able to establish a scholarship in her name.