PLAN AND PREPARE FOR AN ANNUAL SELF-DRIVEN TOUR OF LOCAL ART STUDIOS IN PLACITAS, TRADITIONALLY OVER THE MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND.ISSUE AN ANNUAL CALL FOR ARTISTS THAT INCLUDES A FULL APPLICATION PROCESS AND VETTING BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.SOLICIT AND OBTAIN LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY ARTIST PARTICIPATION FEES.
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THE HISTORY OF PLACITAS STUDIO TOUR
And so it began . . . . Twenty-seven years ago, Riha Rothberg and a small group of artists in
Placitas, New Mexico organized the first Placitas Studio Tour. Gathered in Wayne Mikosz’
living room, Tom Ashe, Roger Evans, Bunny Bowen, John Shannon, and Michele (Miki)
Sewards joined Riha and Wayne in creating the Placitas Studio Tour. As the plans for the
first Tour started to unfold, it became clear the small group needed to expand. Jon and
Nancy Couch joined the group bringing with them a strong background in organization and
public relations. Jon created and implemented a highly organized program for the tour
signage, which has been used for every tour since 1998. Nancy’s public relations skills
awakened the media and the public to the amazing art offered during the Placitas Studio
Tour, which has led to it becoming one of the most highly-anticipated studio tours in New
Mexico.
Since that first year the Tour has grown in sophistication and in numbers. Most recent
years have featured over 65 participating artists and crafts people working across a wide
range of media. The Tour provides an opportunity for visitors to see the spaces, views and
objects that inspire Placitas artists to create their works. While the work of many
participating artists can be found in fine art galleries and museums, the Tour reminds art
enthusiasts that art begins in the studio—a place of process, creativity, and inspiration.
Thanks to the vision of that small group of artists, the Tour is celebrating its twenty-
seventh year in 2024. In looking toward many more years of sharing some of the most
fascinating art and unique studios in New Mexico, we once again say thank you to that
small group of original artists who had the vision those many years ago to open their
The Placitas Studio Tour is registered as a Domestic Nonprofit
Corporation in the State of New Mexico.
We are governed by an all-volunteer board of directors. The board is
guided by current bylaws, which are viewable here. The board is
responsible for review and approval of annually-submitted artist
applications, solicitation of sponsorships, and coordination of all
activities that support the annual studio tour.
OUR BOARD 2023-2024
Nancy Holley, President
Mary Hofmann, Secretary
Kay Naranjo, Treasurer
Lisa Avila, Sponsorships
Lani Hitchens, Hospitality
Susan Meilahn, Exhibits
Dana Patterson Roth, Sponsorships
MORE ABOUT PLACITAS STUDIO TOUR
& ITS HISTORY
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To promote the Placitas, New Mexico artist community by increasing the
audience and customer base of the diverse fine arts and crafts created
in Placitas, New Mexico, through an annual artist studio tour.
WHAT WE DO
1.
PLAN AND PREPARE FOR AN ANNUAL SELF-DRIVEN TOUR OF LOCAL ART STUDIOS IN PLACITAS, TRADITIONALLY OVER THE MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND.ISSUE AN ANNUAL CALL FOR ARTISTS THAT INCLUDES A FULL APPLICATION PROCESS AND VETTING BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.SOLICIT AND OBTAIN LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY ARTIST PARTICIPATION FEES.
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The Placitas Studio Tour is registered as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation in the
