The 2026 Open Studio Tours Artist Registration is currently open, and we want Tucson creatives to seize the opportunity. Opening your studio to the public can feel overwhelming, especially for emerging artists; that is why we decided to sit down and talk to Lara Ruggles — a local singer-songwriter and last year’s OST participant — to hear about her experience with the tour as a musician, plus some pro tips just for you.
Participating in Open Studio Tours
David Gaxiola (DG): How many years have you participated in OST, and what makes you want to come back?
Lara Ruggles (LR): Last year was my first year participating in Open Studios. I did it because I made a bet that most people think “visual art” when they think of open studios, and it would be fun to show off something entirely different — the recording studio where I make music! I’m not sure yet whether I’ll participate again this year — not because I didn’t enjoy it last year, but because I may end up moving out of state for work. But if I do, it’ll be because I want to continue representing something a little different, showing the community and other artists that performing artists have fun things going on, too, and it’s a great opportunity to see behind the curtain!
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Reaching new audiences
DG: Has participating in Open Studio Tours boosted your exposure to new audiences or your sales?
LR: I think so! The most successful part of my open studios last year was the backyard concert I put on Saturday night. I posted about it on my Instagram and sent it out in my email newsletter, asking for RSVPs. An hour before the show, I thought no one would come because it was raining and only two people had RSVP’d. But then so many people showed up that we had to find more chairs, because they had found out about it on the Arts Foundation website!
Advice for artists considering OST
DG: What piece of advice would you share with artists interested in participating this year?
LR: Think about the experience you want to give people who come to your studio. As a musician and performer, for example, people are more excited to see me perform than to see the equipment in my studio. So if I am part of Open Studio again this year, I’ll probably keep my unstructured “visiting hours” much more limited. I’ll host another performance, and I might do a specific demonstration or educational experience in my space. But I don’t know that people will have the most interesting experience just by looking at the equipment I use. So my advice would be to think about what types of interactive experiences your art medium lends itself to, and what you want folks to come away with, and tailor your open studio to give them that. Don’t exhaust yourself trying to stay “on” for every possible hour of every day of the weekend. Deliver what’s in your wheelhouse only during the hours that really work for you!
