Applications are now open

The focus of the tour is to provide a fun and enticing exhibition and sales opportunity for local artists, to create an opportunity for patrons, supporters and the art-interested public to visit the artists in their studios/studio galleries, and to promote sales, interest, and heightened art and cultural awareness within the community.

Scholarship Opportunities*

For many artists, entry cost can be a barrier and WAST wants to help. We have multiple scholarships for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Disabled and Emerging Artists (for artists at the beginning of their creative career). We know that BIPOC Artists and Artists with Disabilities face structural barriers that make participation in programs like studio tours more difficult. Due to these factors, we have created a scholarship program that will pay $200 of the $350 Artist Participation fee. Check the appropriate box on the application for consideration. Scholarship recipients will be expected to volunteer 20 hours prior to the tour. Visit our Committee Roles page for more and sign up at the first general meeting. *Scholarships are based on available funds from year to year.

No Studio? No problem!

Some artists’ studio space may not be, what they deem, as presentable to the public. It is common for some artists to share exhibition space with other tour artists in their studios, so don’t let that hold you back. The quality of the artist’s work is the most important consideration. Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven is offering a shared display space for up to six artists during the Spring and October Studio Tour weekends. The $400 per weekend rental cost for the space will be divided among the artists who exhibit there. If you would like to be considered for this shared space, please check the button on the application.

Get Involved

The studio tour is self-organized by all artists on the tour. Participating artists must be willing to commit a few hours volunteering to do the work required to make the Tour a success. Visit our Committee Roles page for more.

How it works

Artists are selected by a Jury comprised of a three-person group of active tour artists, and established independent art professionals from the community. Artists who jury in are accepted for three years. Artists that have participated for ten consecutive years or more are no longer required to jury.

Jurying new applicants and returning artists that have not juried for the previous three years will occur in early April. New applicants should fill out the application and pay the jury fee on-line or by check for the 2026 tour. Jury fees are non-refundable.

All artists must submit an application even if they are not required to jury. Returning artists from 2024 & 2025 do not need to Jury. Jury fees are non-refundable to artists who pay the jury fee in years they're not required. Artists who jury into the Tour will be notified the first week of April, 2026.

The Jury Fee is $35.

apply now

Tour Requirements

Did you read them? It's what makes the tour cohesive and a good experience for our artists and visitors. Make sure you read them here.

Got Questions? Watch our New Artist Q&A Zoom video