Routes to Art Open Studio Tour

Routes to Art, the region's first open studio self-driving tour, will debut on May 17 and 18, when 35 artists across the region will open their doors to the public. Conceived in 2006 in response to requests from area artists, the Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC) developed a multi-county, tri-state, bi-national marketing program to promote art sales while highlighting the beauty and cultural heritage of the Cattaraugus County region. Kimberly Driscoll, Manager of Grants and Programs comments, “We’re hoping our local residents will also hit the road to see some of the region’s top artists, enjoy the blooming hillsides, drive the back roads, try a new restaurant, and support our local economies.” In fact, Routes to Art was designed as a cultural tourism initiative to improve local economies by highlighting the arts as a destination target. CCAC has marketed Routes to Art as far as Pittsburgh, Toronto, Rochester, Erie, Cleveland, and Buffalo.



CCAC’s Executive Director Anne Conroy-Baiter comments that there are a few easy ways to plan your route. “The first way is to go to Routes to Art.com. It’s a beautiful website with artist portfolios, driving directions, links to Google maps, and general program information. The second is to request a brochure on the Routes to Art website, Routes to Art, or by emailing CCAC at artscouncil@verizon.net or calling 716-372-7455."


This is just the first year for this program but already the excitement is building throughout Cattaraugus County and northern Pennsylvania for 2009. The Seneca Nation is joining Routes to Art next year, with roughly 20 of the Nation’s artists and artisans signing on with the tour. Routes to Art is produced by the Cattaraugus County Arts Council with funding from the Cultural Tourism Initiative, a project of the Arts and Business Council of New York and the New York State Council on the Arts. Locally the project was supported by The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Mellon and Co., Register Graphics, Earth Arts, The Jefferson Inn, Dee E. Smith, Nancy Pascarella, Linda Sciandra, Ellicottville’s Antique Farm Fair, and the American Museum of Cutlery. Additional funding was provided by Cattaraugus County as well as a special New York State grant for environmental education, cultural and recreational programs facilitated by Assemblyman Joseph Giglio. Artist portfolios, driving directions, brochure requests, and general information on Routes to Art can be found at Routes to Art.com. For information about CCAC, contact the CCAC at 716-372-7455 or artscouncil@verizon.net.

Pictured from top to bottom are Beads, Acrylic, Carson Waterman; Peaches, Watercolor by Peg Bothner; Fall Bowl, stoneware pottery, Elliott Hutten. Photos courtesy of The Cattaraugus County Arts Council