Shop Local: Open Studio Tours and Arts Council Gallery Offer Unique Gift Giving
Are you on the hunt for authentic locally made gifts this holiday season? Support artists in your own community by visiting open studio tours or your local arts council gallery to find distinctive gifts made right here in North Carolina!
Here’s a list of upcoming studio tours and a sampling of local arts councils that showcase and sell the work of talented artists across N.C.
Have an artful holiday season!
Open Studio Tours
Nov. 23–24
528 Old Plank Road, Seagrove, N.C.
The Seagrove Pottery Festival is the largest collaboration of local, traditional Seagrove potters.
Celebration of Seagrove Potters
Nov. 22–24
Nov. 22–24
Historic Luck’s Cannery, Seagrove, N.C.
An indoor pottery show featuring authentic Seagrove pottery from over 50 ceramic artists that live and work within the area.
An indoor pottery show featuring authentic Seagrove pottery from over 50 ceramic artists that live and work within the area.
Dec. 6–8
Mitchell and Yancey Counties
Eight galleries and more than 100 artist studios, many of which are not normally open to the public, participate in the Toe River Studio Tour.
Eight galleries and more than 100 artist studios, many of which are not normally open to the public, participate in the Toe River Studio Tour.
Dec. 7
McDowell High School, Marion, N.C.
Sponsored by the McDowell Arts Council Association, this festival features almost 70 potters working in traditional and contemporary styles.
Sponsored by the McDowell Arts Council Association, this festival features almost 70 potters working in traditional and contemporary styles.
Chatham Artist’s Guild Studio Tour
Dec. 7–8 and 14–15
Dec. 7–8 and 14–15
Numerous locations throughout Chatham County
Founded in 1992 and one of the oldest in the state, the annual Chatham Artist’s Guild Studio Tour features 45 artists working in pottery, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, metal, and more.
Founded in 1992 and one of the oldest in the state, the annual Chatham Artist’s Guild Studio Tour features 45 artists working in pottery, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, metal, and more.
Nov. 29–30
Locations throughout Graham and Swain Counties
A free self-guided driving tour of the galleries and working studios of Graham and Swain County. Meet some of the artists that make western N.C. famous for its handcrafted arts.
River Arts District’s Second Saturday Studio Stroll
Dec. 14
Depot Street, Asheville, N.C.
More than 180 working artist studios in 22 historic, industrial buildings open their doors for this studio stroll featuring glass, musical instruments, wood, clay, recycled furniture, and more.
Local Arts Council Gallery & Gift Shops
Graham, N.C.
Offers a unique selection of original and handcrafted gifts by local and regional artists.
Ashe County Arts Council’s Gallery Shop
West Jefferson, N.C.
Features over 100 local artists and crafts artisans.
Dec. 10
Windsor, N.C.
Windsor Holiday Extravaganza includes a bazaar, music, food and shopping.
Cabarrus Arts Council’s Galleries Gift Shop
Concord, N.C.
The Galleries Gift Shop features handcrafted items by local artists and artisans including jewelry, pottery, stationery, ornaments, wooden items, prints and much more!
Chowan Arts Council
Gallery and Gift Shop, Edenton, N.C. is located along the Edenton waterfront park and offers a variety of works from local artists.
The Bank of the Arts is a historic building in the heart of the waterfront town of New Bern, N.C. and the gallery and shop feature artists of the southeastern U.S.
The Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery & Gifts features a year-round selection of retail artists and 10 rotating gallery shows per year selected through a jury process.
13th Annual Holiday Sale, Dec.
Dec. 13–14 featuring three floors of local arts at the Art Center.
Located in downtown Marion the shop offers local and national artists' exhibitions that change monthly. Shop in our retail store and browse the gallery selections.
The Campbell House Sales Gallery, Southern Pines showcases artwork by local, regional and national artists in a variety of media.
The Holiday Artist Market is Emerge Gallery’s annual holiday sale featuring handmade fine arts and crafts with a ticketed preview night on Dec. 5. The holiday show continues until Dec. 21.
Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center
The Stecoah Artisans Gallery in Robbinsville offers a unique opportunity to buy original artwork as well as the fine crafts that have made N.C. famous. There is a wide variety of traditional and contemporary works.
For a complete list of local arts councils across North Carolina visit: https://www.ncarts.org/local-arts-council-directory
The North Carolina Arts Council is a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency.
Susi H. Hamilton, Secretary; Roy Cooper, Governor
Copyright © 2020 North Carolina Arts Council. All rights reserved.