The PEC Studio Tour was founded 33 years ago, in October 1994, by Peta Hall and a band of 14 artists. The studios were clustered in Bloomfield, with a few outliers near Picton.

Now,  three decades in, the Tour boasts 39 juried studio locations in every corner of the County, and 58 artists.

But all along, the premise has been simple: to meet artists where they work, and engage in conversation about their art, and the process and reflection from which it emerges. From there all number of things can happen, moving from colour, to the light, to life itself.

As former Tour Chair Dale Wainwright puts it, “where artists create — that’s a big part of the story.” The conversations, for both artists and visitors, “are incredibly important, at once humbling and inspiring occasions.”

“The Studio Tour 
Weekend is a favourite event for visitors and locals alike.
It boosts 
visitors to the region, public interest in our artists,
and offers a reason to explore every area of the County.”

— Former Chair Dale Wainwright

The history of the Tour is a colourful strand in the past four decades of resurgence and revitalization. This primarily agricultural community has become an artists’ haven, marked by both invention and collaboration.

“Studio Tour Weekend is a favourite event for visitors and locals alike. It boosts visitors to the region, and public interest in our artists, and offers a reason to explore every area of the County,” notes Ms. Wainwright.

With 300 artists, the County
is tied with Stratford and 
Niagara-on-the-Lake
for highest  concentration of 
artists per capita in Canada. 

The County now boasts one of the highest concentrations of artists per capita in Canada, along with Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Its 300 local artists make up 2.3% of the municipal labour force – more than double the provincial and national averages of 1.0%.

By the Numbers

All indicators point to a Tour poised for dramatic growth. Since just 2024, 59 artists have applied to join. “Many just relocated here,” notes Ms. Wainwright. In 2021 there were 39 artists on the Tour. There are 58 today.

Likewise, last year’s Tour saw a 55 percent leap in art sales over the previous year.

From a steady $60-65k in sales in 2022 and 2023, and $70k in 2024, sales jumped to $108k in 2025.

“Those sales figures are tallied from artist reports after the weekend. They don’t count those people who come back a few weeks later to make a purchase, so they are only telling part of the story,” notes Ms. Wainwright.

“The best part is that 100 percent of those proceeds go directly to the artists. No commission is collected by the Studio Tour.

“Support for artists is support for our community and a boost to the County’s economy.”

Studio or Gallery?

In 2023, Tour organizers decided that art galleries were in a class of their own, and would no longer be included. “The purpose of the Tour is to showcase the work of local artists. Many of our galleries showcase artists from all over North America, so that’s one thing,” notes the current Tour Chair, Sue Whitney.

“And the other is that this is studio tour. What is a stop on a “studio tour” without a studio? Members felt that including galleries was outside the basic mandate of the organization, which is to facilitate meeting artists in person, where they work,” explains Ms. Whitney.

Instead, the County’s major galleries have the Arts Trail. To qualify, art galleries must be open regular hours, all year long. “The Tour’s annual membership fee — it’s been unchanged for a decade at $300 — is much more affordable for participating artists than the shared marketing costs of participating on the Arts Trail,” notes Ms. Wainwright. This year, Visit the County is managing the Trail, lowering fees to $750 per year from $1500.

Best Tour in the Province

Until last year, the Studio Tour operated under the auspices of the Arts Council. “That came with a range of benefits, including admin support, charitable tax status, and joint promotions to a larger audience, like the live Paint Around,” notes Ms. Wainwright. With County Arts support, the Tour flourished.

That was also due in no small part to the heroic exertions of Ms. Wainwright, who stepped in as Chair in 2015. “I had a committee of volunteers, and we all worked long hours to increase the Tour’s membership, sponsorships, and budget,”  she explains. Advertising spread to Toronto, Belleville, Napanee, Brighton, Trenton, Kingston and Ottawa — because volunteers distributed the Tour’s colourful brochure in almost every tourist kiosk, restaurant, hotel, and inn along the 401 corridor, in addition to over 250 businesses inside the County. There has always been strong community support. “The Drake Devonshire has sponsored the Studio Tour for 33 years, and other stalwarts, including The Waring House and Libby Crombie, back us up every single year.”

Meanwhile, the Tour developed a reputation as one of the best s in the province.

“Rigorous standards for accepting new artists and studios ensure a high-quality experience for visitors,” says Ms. Wainwright. Applications are juried by a panel of 2-4 member artists. “There is a template form, and jury member comments are scrutinized for fairness.”

“There is energetic debate,” she notes dryly.

One of the key standards is fine art. “That is not a given,” notes Ms. Wainwright. “We wanted the PEC Studio Tour to showcase ‘art for art’s sake’. There are not many other Tours that do that.”

Of the 15 new applicants this year, just 9 were accepted.

A Year-Round Event

Although the PEC Studio Tour 
is best known for the Tour Weekend, 
it is in many ways a year-round event. 
By May,
applicants have been juried and accepted,
and the Tour guide map,
 brochure, website and mobile app 
are all ready to go.
 Tour artists are ready for visitors. 
Many of the County’s art studios 
are open seasonally, 
some are open year-round, 
and all are open by appointment.

Get on the Tour, any time of year.

Tour artists work in oil and acrylic, mixed media, photography, stone sculpture, glass, ceramic, assemblage, woven art, unique jewelry, wire sculpture and wood turning.

“The bar for entry is high. Emerging artists are encouraged, but they must have a website or social media site, a practice, an artist statement, and a body of work. Judges look for creativity, technical skill, and composition.

“We’re lucky in that the County has a large pool of very talented artists. It allows the Tour to raise the bar, and it’s why we’re considered one of the best, if not the best, studio tour in Ontario.”

Ms. Wainwright stepped down as Tour Chair this past December. In June, she was awarded the Volunteer Recognition Award by the Prince Edward County Arts Council for her dedicated leadership.

The new Chair is Sue Whitney. “She was the perfect candidate,” enthuses Ms. Wainwright. “ Her husband, John Lawson, has been a studio artist on the Tour for several years, and Sue was winding down a professional business career. Perfect timing!”