Open Studios by UAW: May 16-17, 2026. An intimate, yet region-wide initiative where creatives across the Hudson Valley and Catskills open their studios to the public—strengthening visibility, access, and connection to art, people, and place.
Open Studios by UAW 2026 — Artist Open Call
Upstate Art Weekend invites artists across the Hudson Valley and Catskills to register for Open Studios by UAW 2026, a stand-alone public event highlighting working studios and creative practice throughout the region. Registered artists may also opt in for potential inclusion in a curated group exhibition organized by UAW founder Helen Toomer.
Drawing from artists participating in Open Studios by UAW, Helen Toomer will curate a group exhibition presented at UAW headquarters in May and June, highlighting the breadth of contemporary artistic practice across the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Extending the spirit of Open Studios into a focused, collective presentation, the exhibition will feature expanded public access during UAW events. Toomer is the founder of Upstate Art Weekend and a curator whose work spans institutional and commercial settings, including Hudson Valley Artists at The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, the 2024 Bermuda Biennial with Ebony G. Patterson, The Kids Are Alright at Timothy Taylor, and the forthcoming 2026 MFA Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition at the School of Visual Arts.
Registration Details
Deadline: April 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST
No late registrations will be accepted.Event dates: May 16–17, 2026
Open hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday; artists must be present during all hours.
Individual registration required: Even if sharing a studio, each artist must register individually, as promotional listings are by artist name.
Location eligibility: Studios must be located in Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester Counties.
Public accessibility: Studios must be accessible and easily located by the general public.
Curated exhibition opt-in: Registered artists may indicate interest for inclusion in the curated exhibition at UAW headquarters.
Artist Benefits
Artists participating in Open Studios by UAW 2026 will receive:
Inclusion in the digital map (15,000+ views)
Feature on Instagram stories (20,000+ followers)
Inclusion in e-newsletters (10,000+ subscribers)
Inclusion in press releases (500+ media contacts)
Inclusion in website with link to website
Promotional digital materials
Registration Fee & Accessibility:
We want Open Studios by UAW to be accessible to all artists, designers and makers. Registration fees are pay-what-you-can, non-refundable, and contribute directly to the promotion of Open Studios by UAW.
Open Studios by UAW 2026 Timeline
Feb 9 – April 9: Registration open
April: Artists notified if selected for the group exhibition, full list of Open Studios participants announced
April 18 – 21: Selected artwork drop-off at UAW HQ
May 1: Curated group exhibition opens at UAW HQ
May 1 – June 29: Open Studios Select on view; open Saturdays and by appointment, with extended hours during:
Open Studios by UAW: May 16–17
Upstate Art Weekend: June 25–29, 2026
FAQs
Q: When does registration close?
Registration for Open Studios by UAW 2026 closes at 5:00 PM EST on April 9, 2026. Late registrations will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Q: What is Open Studios by UAW?
Open Studios by UAW is a stand-alone, public-facing weekend event taking place on May 16–17, 2026, one month prior to Upstate Art Weekend. The event brings awareness to individual artists’, designers’, and makers’ studios across the region by inviting the public directly into working studio spaces.
Q: What are the required studio hours?
All participating studios must be open to the public from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on both Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026, with the registered artist present during all open hours.
Q: Can I participate for only one day or with limited hours?
No. Participation requires full availability on both days during the designated hours.
Q: Do I need to register individually if I share a studio?
Yes. All artists must register individually, including those who share studios or work within a studio building. Promotional listings are organized by artist name, not by studio or collective.
Q: Who is eligible to participate?
Artists are eligible to register if their studio is located within one of the following ten counties: Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester.
Q: What qualifies as an eligible studio?
Each studio must be accessible to and easily located by the general public. Studios that are difficult to access, not clearly identifiable, or not appropriate for public visitation may be deemed ineligible.
Q: Is there a curated exhibition associated with Open Studios by UAW?
Yes. Registered artists may opt in for consideration for a curated group exhibition at UAW headquarters, organized by Upstate Art Weekend founder Helen Toomer. Drawing from artists participating in Open Studios by UAW, Helen Toomer will curate a group exhibition presented at UAW headquarters in May and June, highlighting the breadth of contemporary artistic practice across the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Extending the spirit of Open Studios into a focused, collective presentation, the exhibition will feature expanded public access during UAW events. Toomer is the founder of Upstate Art Weekend and a curator whose work spans institutional and commercial settings, including Hudson Valley Artists at The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, the 2024 Bermuda Biennial with Ebony G. Patterson, The Kids Are Alright at Timothy Taylor, and the forthcoming 2026 MFA Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition at the School of Visual Arts.
Q: Does registering guarantee inclusion in the curated exhibition?
No. Participation in Open Studios by UAW does not guarantee inclusion in the curated exhibition. Selection is at the sole discretion of the curator.
By registering for Open Studios by UAW 2026, artists confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements, agree to the participation terms outlined above, and commit to being present and open to the public for the full duration of the event.