The Art Gallery of Peterborough is not only celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but also the 40th anniversary of the iconic Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour (KAST) — one of the longest running studio tours in Canada.
Taking place each fall as the colours of the Kawarthas reach their peak, the self-guided tour encourages locals and visitors to explore all the creativity the region has to offer by visiting the studios of talented artists from across the Peterborough and the Kawarthas region.
Featuring more than 40 local professional artists, this year’s special anniversary tour is taking place on Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
VIDEO: 2024 Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour
“We have such a rich and vibrant arts culture here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas — it’s such a vital part of our ecosystem and local economy,” says Andrew Ihamaki, Education Programming Coordinator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. “KAST is about building connections while highlighting and showcasing that art is all around us.”
With studio locations in the City and County of Peterborough as well as the village of Lakefield, KAST will showcase a range of artwork from classic landscape paintings and traditional woodworking to some of the more innovative and interdisciplinary styles, including some that incorporate taxidermy and augmented reality.
“There are so many varieties of mediums, techniques, and styles to see,” Ihamaki says. “No matter what kind of artwork moves you, there’s something for you on the tour.”
A map brochure of all studio locations is available at the Art Gallery of Peterborough as well as at businesses around the city. You can also download the free Toureka! app for your mobile device (available for both iOS and Android), which you can use not only to browse through artists’ bios but to create your customized route for the studios you want to visit throughout the weekend.
Whether you use the brochure or the mobile app, Ihamaki says KAST is all about making art more accessible to everyone.
“We understand there is an inherent feeling of exclusivity that comes along with art and the studio tour tries to remove that,” says Ihamaki. “Removing that rigid timeline frees it up for visitors to come and go as they please. It’s a very laid-back, welcoming approach where you can choose your own adventure and select the things that excite you without the formality.”
New this year, the Art Gallery of Peterborough is launching the KAST Passport. The more studios you visit and check off throughout the weekend, the more chances you’ll have to win the draw for prizes from the gallery shop. Studio visitors are also encouraged to share, post, and highlight their stops along the tour to their social media channels, while tagging the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
“We really want to see the community excited and engaged, telling people about their favourite works and artists,” Ihamaki says. “It’s all about connecting — with the art and artists, but also with each other. Whether you’re going with friends, or family, the studio tour is really for everybody.”
At each of the studio stops, participants can connect, chat with, and learn from the artists in their own workspace. Ihamaki says this can really “demystify the process” for tour participants and, for those interested in becoming an professional artist themselves, show that the arts is a viable career.
“The arts are such a welcoming community, and every artist is really supportive and wants to share their craft and their love and passion with anyone who’s willing and excited to learn,” Ihamaki says. “It is such a great opportunity to become a part of that community, because there’s such an amazing symbiotic relationship that happens. And maybe next year, you might be on the studio tour because you’ve taken that opportunity to work and learn from the artist.”
Painter Lucy Manley, print maker Jeffrey Macklin, and stone carver Nick Leniuk are just a few of the artists who will be demonstrating their creative processes throughout the weekend.
“Leniuk is demonstrating an intricate process for creating elaborate stone carvings of trees by hand — a lot of people might think those are CNC or machine-cut images,” says Ihamaki. “Seeing it take place in person really shifts your perspective on the act of making. Whether its visual, fine art, or crafting, there is such a labour of love that goes into creating art.”
Also new for the 40th anniversary KAST, Community Futures Peterborough has sponsored the inclusion of an Emerging Artists Hub. Guests can drop into a pop-up space located the Peterborough Public Library during the weekend and view work from emerging and mid-career artists who don’t yet have their own studio space. Artists have until Monday, August 19th to apply to participate in the Emerging Artists Hub.
“Many artists in this community might not have the means or the ability to have a studio space where they can welcome people in, so we’re trying to make that opportunity available,” Ihamaki explains. “The lets them connect with the audiences in the tour that come to visit, and it really makes it a more equitable and more accessible tour for more artists.”
Don’t know which studio stops to add to your route? Visit the Art Gallery of Peterborough until September 29 for the 40th Anniversary: KAST Selections Exhibition. One piece of artwork from each of the artists on the tour will be on display, helping viewers decide whose studios they are most excited to visit. The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer (except on the August 5 civic holiday, when it is closed).
“It’s a great opportunity to come in, see a little bit of everything, pick the ones you want to see, and plan your route,” Ihamaki says. “You might be really surprised by what you see. You might even fall in love with a new artist just by seeing their work in person.”
In recognition of KAST’s 40th anniversary, the Art Gallery of Peterborough is hosting a special celebration on Thursday, August 8th from 7 to 9 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend this free event and join current and past participating artists, sponsors, stakeholders, and supporters to celebrate 40 years of artistic excellence in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
“It’s a really big year for us and a big year for the tour,” says Ihamaki. “It’s become such a fixture and staple in our community, and we would love for it to continue to grow and for more and more people to be connected, and see the tour last for another 40 years at least.”
To learn more about this year’s tour, including a full list of participating artists, visit kast.agp.on.ca.
For updates on KAST, follow the Art Gallery of Peterborough on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Art Gallery of Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
