2023 ​Ames Artists' Studio Tour Application Information

​Saturday, September 30 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  & 
Sunday, October 1 | Noon – 4 p.m.
The Ames Community Arts Council is now seeking applicants for the seventh annual juried studio tour! The public will be invited to a “behind the scenes” look at how art is created in this self-guided tour. If you are an artist in the greater Ames area with a working studio and you are looking for ways to showcase your work, this event may be perfect for you!
 
The Ames Artists' Studio Tour is for you if:
  • You have an awesome, interesting, safe studio and some space for parking. This is open to all kinds of studios—studios for visual arts, recording, dance, radio, and so on.
  • You are interested in sharing your story with potential customers: You like to talk about how you got started, what inspires you, how you get your ideas, what you are learning, etc. You understand that these experiences can lead to sales (now and/or down the road) and can help the public better understand the creative process.
  • You are comfortable showing off – you have work to display and sell.
  • You are willing to get your hands dirty. You can demonstrate how you do your work and/or have an activity for visitors to try. Feel free to get creative with this part. If you don’t like to do demos, maybe you can have a series of pieces in different stages of your process. The essential thing here is that this goes beyond just showing what you have for sale. This is a rare opportunity for the public to understand what it takes to create your work.
  • You can get social – you are willing to help promote the Tour by making posts to social media, sending an email or snail mail notice to your list, and/or handing out the brochure wherever you can.
 
The details:
Application deadline:  Friday, June 2, 2023
Fees:  $75 for Ames Community Arts Council members; $125 for non-members.
           Payment is due at the time of acceptance.
Notification:  Applicants will be notified no later than Friday, June 9, 2023.
​            Up to twenty studios will be accepted.
Artists may choose to participate in either one or both days of the tour.
            [Full fee required, regardless of level of participation.] 
 
What the Ames Community Arts Council will do for you:
Tons of Marketing and Promotion
  • We have funding to help cover marketing costs.
  • We will work to get additional sponsors to help cover more marketing costs.
  • We are members of the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau and will work with ACVB to make sure we are doing everything we can to draw visitors.
  • We are creating a brochure and will make it available for your use.
  • We will make regular posts to social media to promote the event.
  • We will use Facebook ads and print ads to reach more potential visitors.
  • We will work with local media to promote the event through TV & radio interviews,
    ​print interviews/articles, and online and print event calendars.
Make the Studio Tour Accessible and Welcoming
  • We will create a webpage with up-to-date Tour info and a great map.
  • We will provide a sign to mark your studio during the Tour so guests don’t have to wonder if they are in the right place
  • We will create a Tour “headquarters” where visitors can get questions answered and get oriented
  • We will help you make your studio a welcoming place. It can be difficult to do demos and greet visitors at the same time. If you will not have a helper during the event, we will assist you in finding a volunteer to serve as a “host,” welcoming visitors into your studio and answering questions.
 
Questions? Ideas to share?
Contact Jennifer Brockpahler at [email protected].
Thank you!
 

EMAIL ADDRESS

[email protected]

TELEPHONE NUMBER

515.259.0494

ADDRESS

P.O. Box 1842
Ames, IA  50010

PRINTABLE APPLICATION

2023 Ames Artists' Studio Tour Application (PDF)