The tour was very successful and the Second Annual “Off the Beaten Path” Studio Tour was launched in 2003, again with the support of area lodging facilities. The tour continued in 2004 and 2005 with the support of area restaurants “Along the Way” and evening entertainment venues. Information about these sponsors was included in the Tour Guide Book as a service to the visitor on the tour. In 2006 area lodging establishments were added as sponsors and listed in our Tour Guide Book to assist visitors making reservations for the next year’s tour. In addition, a “Friends of the Tour” program was introduced which has raised over $1000 so far.

Each year new artists have been added to the tour through a peer review process which considers the type and quality of work produced and the geographic location and accessibility of the artist’s studio. Eligible studios must be within 30 miles of the Court Square in Mountain View and are limited to artists who have private working studios. A total of 32 artists in 28 studios have participated in the tour in the past five years. There were a total of 19 studios on the 2006 tour, including 9 of the original 2002 participating studios. Five new studios were added to the tour last year (2007). Beadmakers Tom and Sage Holland, painter and weaver Joy Harp, and stained glass artist Dona Sawyer will all be returning to the tour in 2008 along with two new studios to be selected by March 30th.

An open studio tour such as this provides visitors a unique opportunity to connect with local artists and craftsmen in their working environments. It allows the visitor to see not only what the artists make but to see how their lives and working spaces reflect and influence their work.

The “Off the Beaten Path” Studio Tour showcases the creative artists in and around Mountain View as well as provides an opportunity for visitors to purchase work directly from these artists. When you choose to buy a handmade product, you are not only buying a unique piece of art but you are supporting Arkansas artists who are making their living creating unique traditional and contemporary crafts with their own hands in their own studios in the beautiful Ozark mountains.