Letter from the Team

I remember walking through the crowded halls of Canopy, meticulously entering each studio and scribbling down the names of artists I loved. It’s surreal, to say the least, that nearly 10 years later I find myself, alongside Zach, leading the Austin Studio Tour into its next chapter.

This is a big task, but every day of the past decade has prepared us to do the work. Spending long hours organizing minute details, strategizing through deep conversation, and holding space for artists—that’s what we do. So when the future of Texas’s biggest and second oldest art tour became uncertain, we immediately agreed we would do everything in our power to keep it going. And the challenge quickly became clear—an unusually short timeline means we needed to move at lightning speed to pull this off.

We started with modest expectations. Our team is small but mighty, yet we needed the support of the artists and spaces, friends and new acquaintances, who have loved the tour for years. If they believed in the dream with us, this could be an opportunity to breathe new life into this cultural institution. And they (you) did—our hopes have been exceeded in every way. Our Austin art community showed up.

With 722 participants featured at 319 locations, this is the largest Austin Studio Tour in history. This energy is more than a statistic. It’s a tribute to the legacy created by all of the organizers and participants over the past 23 years—and a powerful reminder that this event is essential to our creative ecosystem.

Now comes the best part! It’s your time to shine.

Art lovers, collectors, friends, families, neighbors, tourists, longtime tour-goers, first-timers—get out there. Meet artists. Ask questions. Hear stories. Purchase artwork. Participate in your community. This is your invitation to explore the city and uplift the people who make Austin so great.

We’re trusting you to help us make the most of this moment, this transformative year, where we build a Tour that thrives now and for years to come.

We fell in love with Austin ten years ago. Since then, it’s been our mission to learn from this community and nourish the culture that drew us here in the first place. Taking lead on one of Texas’s premiere art events is an honor we don’t take lightly.