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About

Somerville Open Studios (SOS) is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of producing an annual open studio and related events in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Through its programming, SOS gives access to the work of visual artists living and working in the city of Somerville. We provide opportunities to view art made within the community; to interact with local artists; and to have access to artists’ working spaces. Our goal is to broaden the public’s exposure to, and appreciation of, finished works of art as well as the art-making process. This exposure both educates the community and raises awareness of the diverse artistic experience available in Somerville.

Somerville Open Studios is managed by a Board of Directors comprised of participating artists. An Open Studios executive committee is formed each year to organize the event. This committee is assisted by many dedicated volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome. Please contact us if you would like to become involved!

SOCIAL MEDIA

2024 Volunteer Team

MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION
Dan Coughlin
Peter Belford
Aram Comjean
proofing: Christie Bielmeier

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATORS
Jacalyn Murphy
Peter Belford
Terry Dovidio
Tim Shei
Morgane Mathews

ARTS AT THE ARMORY COORDINATORS
Melissa London
Seth Berkowitz

GRAPHICS AND EVENT MAP DESIGN
Terry Dovidio
Julia Tenney
Joshmi Joseph

PROMOTION – Social Media
Erin Naomi Burrows
Ilana Krepchin
Joshmi Joseph 
Allison Tanenhaus 
Amy Stein 
Grace Duval 
Maddie Drake
Stephanie Shields 

PROMOTION – Traditional Media
Julia Tenney
Susan Altman
Amy Stein 
Stephanie Shields 
Grace DuVal

EVENT MAP CONTENT
Terry Dovidio
Ron Newman

EVENT MAP / POSTER DISTRIBUTION
Matt Kaliner
Aliza Arzt

SOS ART EXHIBITS & SHOWS

First Look Exhibit 
Anne Randolph, Mara Brod, Terry Dovidio

Volunteer Show 
Jane Long, Stan Eichner, Michele O’Brien

Inside-Out Gallery  
Produced by the Somerville Arts Council
Heather Balchunas, Hilary Scott

Artwear: The SOS Fashion Show 
Lexie Griffith, Martha Friend, Consuelo Perez

Kids & Teens Show
Elena Clamen

TROLLEY COORDINATORS
Matt Kaliner 
Rajiv Raman

VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Aliza Arzt
Anne Randolph

WEBSITE / DATABASE
Aram Comjean
Matt Carrano
Ron Newman
Rajiv Raman

2024 Board of Directors

Hilary Scott, president
Peter Belford, treasurer
Terry Dovidio, clerk
Matt Carrano
Matt Kaliner

History

Somerville Open Studios was born in the winter of 1999 when two Somerville artists, Jonathan Derry and Laura Fayer, decided that there was a need for a city wide open studio event that could provide a venue for artists working out of their homes and small studio buildings, as well as those in larger and established buildings, to exhibit their work to the public. After placing a call to artists throughout the city, an inaugural planning committee was formed to organize the first annual Somerville Open Studios to take place during the first weekend of May that year. SOS 1999 featured just over 80 artists exhibiting at 25 sites throughout the city. In the sixteen years since, SOS has grown to become one of the largest events of its kind in the country with over 400 participating artists displaying their work every spring.

In 2001 we introduced the first SOS online artist directory to allow visitors to better plan their tour by previewing artist work online. In 2002 the first Artist’s Choice exhibit was held at the Somerville Museum to give visitors a further opportunity to see a wide selection of Somerville artists’ work in a single venue. In 2004 Somerville Open Studios became a Massachusetts non-profit organization established for the purpose of providing access to artists and exposing the public to the wide variety of art-making activities taking place in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.

The Volunteers that make SOS happen got a special group show dedicated to their work, starting in SOS of 2011. In SOS of 2012 a group of Somerville clothing designers and creators approached SOS to launch the first SOS runway Fashion Show. Likewise Somerville Community Access Television coordinated an SOS Film Festival to run in conjunction with SOS. Each of these initiatives have brought more attention to the deep and diverse arts community that thrives in the City of Somerville.

In 2012, SOS also for the first time expanded to three days, with some artists opting to open their studios for three hours on Friday evening. Starting in 2013, SOS has presented a Kids’ Art Show in the Armory Cafe. While experiencing steady growth, we have striven to keep the event inclusive and diverse. In this spirit, we welcome artists who are exhibiting for the first time to show next to established professionals. We work hard to make a place for artists working out of their home studios as well as those who are part of large studio buildings. While doing this we continue to look for new ways to build community and make connections between visual artists and the people of Somerville.

2023 Press Advisory

Publicity Email: publicity@somervilleopenstudios.org

Public Information:
Somerville Open Studios
Website: www.somervilleopenstudios.org
General Information: sos@somervilleopenstudios.org

2023 press information will be available soon.