History of Newton Open Studios

In 1985 Newton’s Third Annual Beaux Arts Ball was being planned. Newton artist Renée Rubin believed that a celebration of the arts was incomplete without the participation of Newton’s visual artists. She applied to the Newton Arts Lottery Council, now the Newton Cultural Council, for a grant to organize artists for an open studios event. Because of funding limitations, her application was rejected. It was then that Linda Plaut and Judy Anderson of the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs became involved. With their support and Renee’s efforts, the first Newton Open Studios was organized. Twenty-eight artists at 19 sites participated.

Three years later in 1988, as part of Newton’s Tricentennial Celebration, Renee had the chance to organize another open studios event, this one sponsored by the Tricentennial Committee. More than 30 artists at 24 sites took part.

After a gap of nine years, the community’s third open studios was an important part of Newton's Festival of the Arts in 1997. This event was organized by the New Art Center with help once more from the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs and in conjunction with the Newton Pride Committee. With the efforts of Jean Mineo, director of the New Art Center, participation grew dramatically to more than 60 artists at 25 sites.

In 2000 and again two years later the New Art Center organized and sponsored Newton Open Studios. The event had grown to 75 artists participating at 44 sites, demonstrating the artists’ desire to reach out and contribute to the cultural life of the community.

The following year the New Art Center, limited by resources, asked Newton artists whether they were willing to organize the exposition. With the center’s guidance, a group of artists, led by Wendy Seller and Renée Rubin , planned and carried out a very successful 2003 event with 91 artists at 52 sites. They also voted to have Newton Open Studios become an artist-run annual event celebrating Newton’s cultural life.

Then, 2004 was great.

Now it's 2005 ... We aim to make it just as good!  If not better ...

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