Click on the front page, below, to start flipping through our 16-page program guide with maps, artist statements, images, directions to each studio, and more! Thank you to Karen Williford Design.
FOR 2012, GO HERE:
http://www.701cca.org/programs-and-events-2/columbia_open_studios/
2011 General Info
What happens during 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios, May 21-22, 2011?
During the 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios weekend, thousands of people will venture out to visit artists at work in the Greater Columbia area (including all of Richland and Lexington Counties), with maps and artist statements in hand. Visitors can spend two full days hopping from studio to studio, with free admission for all.
View 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios artist map 2011 in a full screen map
So it’s like a free, weekend-long tour of private homes and gardens, except you’re touring private art studios?
You got it. Join us!
Where do I find one of these 16-page program guides in print?
a. Rock Hill, SC: the Art Center, Up Gallery and the Winthrop University galleries
b. Spartanburg, SC: Spartanburg Museum of Art and Hub Bub
c. Charleston, SC: Redux, Nina Liu, Smith Killian
d. Charlotte, NC: McColl Center, Elder Art, Charlotte, coffee shops
e. Sumter, SC: USC Sumter, Sumter Gallery of Art
f. Greenville, SC: LC Art Gallery
g. Aiken, SC: Arts Center and the Magnolia Café
h. Greater Columbia, SC:
Art entities: 701 Center for Contemporary Art, City Art, The Tapp’s Center for the Arts, if Art Gallery, the DuPre Building, the Studios at the Arcade, Vista Studios/Gallery 80808, the Village Artists at the Village at Sandhill, Artists that Work (Lexington, SC), Lewis+Clark Gallery, Havens Gallery, HoFP, Southern Pottery, etc.
Restaurants/cafes/shops: Motor Supply Co. Bistro, 116 espresso and wine bar, Caffe Strudel, Gervais + Vine, Garden Bistro, Blue Marlin, Cupcake, Carolina Wings, Logan Raye Studio, Cline Salon, Immaculate Consumption, Green’s on Assembly, etc.
Hotels: The Sheraton on Main St., the Marriott on Main St., the Vista Hilton, the Vista Hampton Inn, Claussen’s Inn, etc.
What is the mission of 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios?
To give our local artists an opportunity to engage the public directly and show their art, as well as their creative processes, while promoting these artists to a statewide audience via print, web, email, and social media PR and marketing.
What are the goals and objectives for this event?
By giving people a chance to peek into artists’ studios, to get a sense of how they work and to interact directly with artists, 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios hopes to achieve the following:
- Provide easy access for the community to the visual arts
- Expose the public to the wealth of fine artists in Columbia, Richland & Lexington counties
- Create new marketing opportunities for artists
- Generate excitement about area artists among seasoned collectors and first-time buyers alike
- Further establish Columbia, SC as a top destination for cultural tourism
When is the event?
Participating artists’ studios will be open to the public on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, May 22, 2011 from noon to 6pm.
Where does the event take place?
Artists’ private studios throughout Columbia, Richland and Lexington counties in the Midlands region of South Carolina.
How will the public find the artists’ studios?
A special 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011 tabloid will be distributed statewide in The State newspaper and via art venues and organizations throughout South Carolina. The tabloid will be what art lovers will carry around as they travel from studio to studio during Columbia Open Studios weekend. It will list all participating artists with their studio address, contact information and information about their art. Furthermore, the tabloid will include maps indicating where the studios are.
What’s the story?
In 2007 and 2008, 70 to 80 local artists opened their studios for Columbia Open Studios. The event then was held under the auspices of the now-defunct Columbia Festival of the Arts. After a two-year hiatus, 701 CCA is resurrecting the event. Columbia Open Studios fits 701 CCA’s mission of enhancing the enjoyment and understanding of contemporary art. 701 CCA is adding Columbia Open Studios to its broad range of activities, which include contemporary art exhibitions, an artist-in-residence program and concerts, dance performances and literary events.
How does this fit into the arts landscape here in Columbia, South Carolina?
One of 701 CCA’s major goals in presenting Columbia Open Studios is to contribute significantly to the capital city’s continued efforts toward building a thriving creative economy here in the Midlands and beyond. We want Columbia, SC to be better known as a regional destination for cultural tourism!
What’s in it for me?
Through 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios, residents of the Midlands and beyond will be able to learn about individual artists, their cultural backgrounds and how their personal stories impact their art. The public can buy art from the artists (who keep 100% of sales), thus making a long-term investment in our state’s creative economy, which generates $9 billion in statewide revenue each year!
Where does info on 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios reside online?
Website: http://www.columbiaopenstudios.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/701CCA
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/701CCA
Interactive map: http://batchgeo.com/map/57def51d5d1fadcb7ac13d3ceba1385b
Does 701 CCA take a commission on art sales?
No. The nonprofit 701 Center for Contemporary Art will NOT take a commission on any works sold during 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011.
Artist Participation Criteria FAQs
What’s the geographical boundary for artist participation?
Only artists with a studio in the city of Columbia, Lexington County or Richland County can participate.
What constitutes an art studio, as defined by 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios?
A space designated and equipped solely for the artist’s art production. A temporary space in the home or elsewhere that does not function fully and permanently as the artist’s studio won’t do for participation in Open Studios.
Can artists without a dedicated working studio participate, even if they rent or borrow a space to at least *show* their work, either alone or as a group?
No. The point of 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios is to give the public a rare peek inside the artist’s dedicated art-making environment.
Can artists with studios in the same facility register under one fee?
No. Each individual artist’s studio needs to be registered with its own participation fee.
How many completed works must be available for public viewing?
Participating artists must be able to show the audience during 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011 at least ten (10) works of original art produced in the past three years.
Can I display reproductions?
No more than 10 percent of all art on display in participating artists’ studios can be offset lithographs or other reproductions and posters; at least 90 percent of the work on display should be original art, whether unique works, including sculpture, or limited-edition sculptures or limited-edition intaglio, lithography, silkscreen or other fine art prints.
Can I open my studio for only part of the weekend?
No. Participating artists must agree to open their studio and be present at all times on Saturday, May 21, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 22, 2011, from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. These hours will be advertised in hard copy, statewide, and cannot be altered in any case.
Must I REALLY record the zip codes of my studio visitors May 21-22, 2011?
Yes. Participating artists must keep track of all visitors to their studio during 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011, most especially, each visitor’s residential zip code. Attendance records by zip code are vital to securing grants for future marketing for this event and its participating artists.
Must I REALLY track and report my sales info for May 21-22, 2011?
Yes. Attendance and sales records help us to secure grants and sponsorship money for this event. Your participation in this matter is crucial to the future funding of 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios!
What is the deadline for submitting attendance and sales info to 701 CCA?
Visitor zip codes and sales records must be emailed or postmarked by 5pm on Friday, May 27, 2011 to the contact info below. Road signs must also be returned to 701 CCA!
OUR MARKETING PLAN
How is 701 Center for Contemporary Art promoting, marketing and advertising the event and its 45 participating artists?
Program Guide & Map
In addition to the 76,000 tabloid format programs that were distributed statewide as an insert in The State newspaper (May 13, 2011), we have printed an overrun of 10,000 copies for artists and volunteers to hand-distribute around the city, region and state at well-trafficked businesses, galleries, shops, restaurants, etc.
Postcards + Direct Mail
Participating artists can pick up 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011 postcards to distribute to friends, colleagues, mailing lists, etc. as well as display in small stacks at well-trafficked businesses, galleries, shops, restaurants, etc. These postcards have been mailed out to multiple targeted lists.
Roadside Signs
We have simple roadside signs (with directional arrows and the COS logo) to direct visitors to their studios. Artists should pick up and post their signs by midnight on Friday, May 20, 2011. Start at a main thoroughfare and post arrow signs at big intersections to lead visitors to your studio, much like the way garage sale signs get posted. Artists who participated in 2008 and didn’t return their road signs will be asked to use that year’s signs if they still have them.
Posters
Hundreds of posters have been printed and displayed locally, and artists have access to a digital version to post on their websites, Facebook pages, etc. and/or print and distribute as they wish.
Advertising
Ads for 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011 have been placed strategically in over 25 print and multiple online media outlets locally and regionally, along with radio spots on 4 stations and editorial mentions and articles in publications like Jeffrey Day’s piece in the Free Times: http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=11001804073474158&ShowArticle_ID=11011805113258145
Direct Email
Email blasts have gone out to thousands of members of multiple arts mailing lists.
Website
The 701 CCA website at http://www.701CCA.org will be a hub for updated information about 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2011.
Facebook
We have created and are maintaining connections between artists and the greater S.C. arts community using Facebook and its robust tagging, linking and image posting features.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships, partnerships, naming rights and other cross-marketing opportunities are available. For info on how to become a sponsor or partner of 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios, please contact us!
Email:
info@701CCA.org
Thank you to our project sponsors!
Major sponsorship by The City of Columbia and BlueCross BlueShield.
We appreciate our professional supporters, The State Media Company, Buonasera Media Services, Karen Williford Design, and Forrest Clonts Photography.
Big thanks our Preview Party sponsors: Nelson Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP; SC Veterinary Associates; and the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties.
This project is funded by the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Carolina Community Foundation of SC.
