Monthly-rotating industry night for arts and culture workers: Open Studio Friday
Open Studio Friday was created out of a desire to connect and see each other’s artwork and creative spaces. Every month, on the Friday evening before 2nd Saturday ArtWalk, a different art studio building invites fellow artists, gallerists, curators, and arts & culture workers. This is a much-needed addition to the well-established and beloved St. Pete institution: 2nd Saturday Artwalk by the St. Pete Arts Alliance.
While having a studio or gallery on ArtWalk is an important experience, opportunity and privilege, a problem for artists, curators, and gallerists is not being able to leave their own space that night to visit art studios and openings, see works in-progress, and meet their peers.
Inspired by artist Jason Hackenwerth and Sixstar Studios who opened their doors on a Friday before ArtWalk last year, artist Luci Westphal proposed a monthly rotating “open art house” at a different campus each month and set up a simple website, calendar, and mailing list. Timing was perfect as Sixstar Studios hosted another art event the evening before February ArtWalk on February 13, 2026.
Open Studio Friday has officially launched: now every month, the art community gathers at different artist building for an “arts & culture workers’ industry night” to connect, support, inquire and get inspired. Organized from the bottom-up through a simple initiative and leaderful self-organizing, Open Studio Friday will enrich the local art community.
The next “Open Studio Friday” will take place on March 13, 6 – 9pm, hosted by the studio artists, MGA Sculpture, and Soft Water Gallery on the ArtsXchange campus at 515 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg 33712.
The current schedule for upcoming Open Studio Friday hosts: Morean Center for Clay (April 10), ArtLofts (May 8), Five Deuces (June 12), Morean Arts Center (July 10), The Factory (August 7). To confirm up-to-date scheduled locations, please check OpenStudioFriday.com and subscribe to the mailing list.
“Having an art studio on ArtWalk is fantastic. I wouldn’t want to give that up. But it has come with a price. ArtWalk used to be my favorite and most important evening of the month. It wasn’t until I got my own studio at the ArtsXchange that I realized how crazy it is that the only people who don’t get to participate in seeing other artists and their process in their studios are us artists and gallery people. We don’t just miss out personally; I think we create better work and build a stronger community if we meet where we create.”
– Luci Westphal (artist, community-builder)
