Richmond Open Studios 2026 Overview
A free, city-wide Richmond arts event over two weekends, featuring 90 artists!
August 8-9: artists at individual studios
August 15: Individual artists selling at partner venues
August 15-16: Artist Collectives
Made In Richmond exhibition opening reception June 17 1-3 pm. Show runs May 24 to Aug 15
Media contact: Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez
How To Apply
Read the FAQs in the section below. Much has changed since last year!
You need to be an artist living or making your work in Richmond or its unincorporated areas. You do not need to have a studio.
Create a free directory profile on this site
Fill out the the ROS 2026 application form using the button on this page.
Made In Richmond Exhibition: The Info You Need To Apply
Finish the piece you will submit before April 1st and give it a title.
Take a well-lit, good quality photo of your work. (at least 1500 px on any side) so our curator can see your work in detail. We will promote you with this photo.
Measure your work’s dimensions: height, width and depth
Prepare a description of your work or of your art practice
If you don’t have a website, open an artist account on Substack, Bluesky or Instagram and use that URL instead.
Who Can Apply?
I don’t live in Richmond, can I apply?
Sure, but you need to provide us with the address of your studio or the location where you make your art. It needs to be located in Richmond or its unincorporated areas.
I live in Richmond but I don’t have a studio, I work out of my kitchen.
Artists who do not have a studio or a space in which to show their work can apply to show at a table at one of our three partner venues on August 15. They enjoy great foot traffic!
I am an artist under 25 yrs old.
Artists under 25 do not pay a ROS registration fee. Contact us when you fill out your application, so we can give you a code to use at checkout. Their registration is paid by our Pay It Forward program.
I am an artist under 18
We speak to all parents or guardians, to ensure young artists are participating voluntarily and safely. You must use the email and phone of a parent or guardian to apply (not your own), and they must come with you to the opening reception and ROS weekend.
Can we apply as a group?
Artists in collective studios and even two artists sharing the same open studio space need to register individually.
Can I register anonymously?
We define open studios as an event where the public gets to meet and buy their work of artists in person. The public wants to meet you, and we must have your name to display on a list.
We accept artistic names or handles for as long as they are also displayed on your social media or website. For example “Pepito” is fine if you can also show us and IG account named @pepito and a website named http://pepito.com
I am broke, do you have a sliding scale?
We don’t at the moment, because Richmond Open Studios relies on volunteer labor, sponsorships, individual donations and registration fees. We hope to incorporate some form of a sliding scale as soon as we obtain grant funding. If you do need partial financial assistance, let us know.
New To ROS? Need Help?Attend the Info Sessions
In-person on April 11 at 11:00 pm
Richmond Art Center
Remote on April 21 at 5:30 pm
Our Partner Venues
The Visual Artists of Richmond is grateful to the Richmond Art Center, the NIAD Art Center, and the Richmond Museum of History and Culture for supporting VAR’s vision of an independent, artist-organized open studios in Richmond.
This page will give you more information on what to expect at each of our partner venues.
This year our partner venues have agreed to host artists selling at tables on August 15 from 11-5 pm.
Our VAR team assigns artists to venues and accommodates their needs depending on available space, with priority given to those with disabilities and other health issues as stated on their registration form. We also strive to have a mix of media at each venue.
Registration FAQs
Why are your dates different from the EBOS dates?
EBOS is a non-profit with their own event, and we are a separate, all-volunteer group running its own open studios event.
How late can I apply?
April 30 at 5:00 pm is the latest. We are a tiny group and not a non-profit or a business, so we can make no exceptions, not even for our friends.
How will I know when I have been accepted?
You will receive an acceptance email no later than May 8, 2026.
I hit a snag creating my directory profile.
Contact Brian via email, but only if your question is related to creating a directory profile.
I need help with my application- I am not good at technology.
will enroll you in the April 21 at 5:00 remote info session so we can help you in time. If you miss that remote info session we won’t be able to assist you over email due to the large number of artists participating.
Can you reject my application?
This year, we will begin rejecting the applications of no-shows. For example, if you were a no-show on 2025, but are present in person on 2026 when we visit, we will accept your application in 2027. However, if you do not show up on 2026 we will reject your 2027 application.
My best friend missed the application deadline. Can I sell his work at ROS?
Please remind your friend early and often about the deadline, which is April 30 at 5:00 pm. For ROS to work, every artist selling needs to register! We will be visiting every venue and individual studios to take photos, and we will be able to tell.
My collective studio colleague did not pay her registration fee but wants to show with us.
Please let your friend know that we will be paying collective studios a visit to take photos. Perhaps you can appeal to your friend by letting them know that for this event to continue, all must pay the registration fee. If your friend insists on opening her studio on those days, contact us and we will have a conversation with them, keeping your tip anonymous.
Made In Richmond Exhibition FAQs
Is this a juried show?
No. Every artist who completes the registration process will be included.
How will you choose the artists participating in this show?
You need to be a Richmond artist who has successfully completed our registration process.
Your work needs to be submitted ready to display. The curator will let you know if it’s not.
Is there a number or size limit for the work being shown this year?
Yes, this year the size limit is 48” on its largest side or 48 x 48 x 48” for 3D work. Each artist will be able to show one piece only.
What is a “ready to hang” piece?
Work must be dropped off "ready to hang" or ready to display. We cannot accept work with wet paint, or work that is too fragile to display safely. Once you’ve been accepted, we will send you more detailed instructions on how to prepare your work for display. If in doubt, please contact curator Erin McCluskey Wheeler.
Can I apply with a photo of a stand-in? I haven’t finished the work I will submit to this show.
Start your piece early and make sure it is finished and the paint is dry by the time you take the photos! We cannot accept works-in-progress, so please make sure the photo shows the actual, finished work you intend to submit.
Will you accept all the artists who apply for MIR?
Participation in MIR is optional.
We reserve the right to reject applications with poor quality photos, photos that don’t show the work, or photos of incomplete work.
We will also reject applications with responses that don’t make sense, do not include the required information, or enough information for us to promote you on social media. For example, if we ask you for a description of your work and you respond with, “my art practice involves emulating the work of other artists,” we will need to reject it. It says nothing about what you actually do, and we will have to spend time tracking you down to get a response we can use. We don’t have that time.
I missed the art-drop off. Now what?
Sadly we won’t be able to accept late arrivals. We define late as arriving after 2:00 on August 6 or 8. Please put it in your calendar, and keep in mind we can’t make exceptions.
I can’t make the art-drop off.
Send someone in your place, and that person will be able to sign your loan form.
If I sell my work at MIR, can the buyer take it home?
Not until after August 15, per the Richmond Art Center’s loan agreement.
Can I remove my piece from the show to display it at my open studio?
You will not be able to remove your work to sell at a table or studio until Aug 17. Please prepare recent work to show at your open studio.
