Forty years of the Uxbridge Studio Tour

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This year's version of the annual Uxbridge studio tour will feature more artists than ever before, and will include a new space for emerging artists.

The Uxbridge Studio Tour covers the entire township and more this year — its 40th anniversary. Map from uxbridgestudiotour.com

Artist Sarah Holtby, the coordinator of this, the 40th anniversary of the tour, says the tour is much bigger than when it started, with 67 artists showing their creations at 23 studios. There also will be a station at Blue Heron Books called "First Edition," which will feature the work of emerging artists.

Holtby said she couldn't be sure, but she believes artists Lynne McIlvride and Francis Muscat have been staples on the tour since the beginning. Holtby herself has been on the tour for 10 years.

Most of the studios are located in Uxbridge Township, but about 10 are in Scugog and Brock, with a couple just south of the town line.

Holtby said the tour is always well-attended but noted that it is hard to keep track of the number of visitors.

"It's completely free for the public to come and watch artists working on projects," she said, adding the tour is good for all ages. Visitors will see creations in all genres of art, from paintings to sculptures to pottery and fabrics and everything in between.

The tour runs next weekend, on Sept. 20-21. For info, visit uxbridgestudiotour.com