Artists Open Studio History

The catalyst for the Nillumbik Open Studio program can be traced back to the late 1950s and 1960s, when artists including Neil Douglas, Abbie Heathcote, Peter Glass, Allan Martin, Margo Knox and David and Joan Armfield opened their homes and studios to the public to exhibit their art. 

This inspired Ona Henderson to start a small collective of local artists to work together to deliver the first Artists Open Studios event in 1983, which attracted 2,000 visitors during weekends for 2 months. The first time the event fell under the banner of the Eltham Shire Council was in 1987. Over the next five years, an expanded group of artists continued to open their studios every year, while also lobbying the council for better security of funding. 

 In 1992, the (renamed) ‘Nillumbik’ Shire Council finally recognised the potential of the Open Studio concept and became the first Council in Victoria to adopt it into its ongoing program.

Today the Artists Open Studio program is independent of Nillumbik Council, although it remains our most valuable sponsor.

This is the Nillumbik Open Studios’ 32nd year of operating and every year we get stronger, more independent and more adventurous. This year, we are opening 27 studios to the public, displaying a wide range of techniques and art forms.  We are also collaborating across disciplines to produce new joint creations and offering a range of workshops in many different mediums.