The Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour is set to mark its 25th year this November, celebrating a tradition that began as a grassroots event in the late 1980s.
Founded in 1999, the tour traces its roots back to an informal studio visit organized by two Oak Bay artists who were inspired by a similar tour they attended in Vancouver in 1986.
Imke Pearson, a stained-glass artist and watercolourist, and her neighbour Elizabeth, a toll painter who worked on wood, initially held a small exhibition in Elizabeth’s living room and kitchen, reaching out to their customers and friends. Over time, the tour continued to grow in popularity.
Since its humble beginning, the Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour became an official event supported by the municipality, which hired a coordinator and began printing maps to guide attendees to participating studios across the district.
This year’s fall tour, taking place on Nov. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will showcase Oak Bay’s art community and highlight a quarter-century of support for local art.
For more information about the event and to see the studio tour map, visit shorturl.at/vP4EH.
