Open Studios Kommetjie

You can open the live digital map on your phone, or print a copy from our website. Printed maps are also available in the various studios, at the main hub, and in local cafés and shops.
Please note: The digital map is only live in the lead-up to as well as during the event.

Many studios are close enough to others for visitors to walk between them, but you’re also welcome to explore by bicycle. In select years, local tuk-tuks are part of the route experience. Use the map to plan your route and make the most of your visit.

Some studios are wheelchair friendly. Please check the map for accessibility icons and plan your route accordingly.

We love dogs, but we ask that you leave them at home during your studio visits. Many participating artists have their own pets, or shared spaces that may not be suitable for visiting animals.

Yes, you can! The participating artists will be in their studios for the duration of the event. Feel free to chat to them – connecting with the creators is what this event is all about!

Each year, Open Studios Kommetjie includes up to 30 artists, both new and returning. You can explore current and past participants on our Artists page.

At open studio events, the public is invited into the spaces where artists work. Visitors get to experience firsthand the environments in which ideas take shape, creative works are developed, and conversations between artist and audience begin.

Each year, Open Studios Kommetjie invites a guest artist to bring a new voice to the event. Selected by the steering committee, this artist shares work that expands the conversations taking place across the studios. Read more about this year’s guest artist on our Artists page. 

The Give Back Project is how we thank the Kommetjie community. Each year, participating artists create or donate works to raise funds for a local cause. The format changes from year to year, with all proceeds going to the nominated cause. Read more on our Give Back Project page.

Open Studios Kommetjie is shaped by a collective of artists from the Kommetjie community. The event is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors, whose support helps to keep it free and accessible.

Throughout the year, Open Studios Kommetjie holds space for a connected group of artists who support one another in developing their practices. Some artists are only starting to exhibit, while others are decades into their careers. What connects us is not just location but a shared commitment to fine art and the conversations it opens.

Open Studios Kommetjie is rooted in fine art practice. Curious about what exactly that means? Visit our Applications page to see what criteria artists must meet to qualify for the event, or view our Fine Art Guide for a deeper look into how fine art differs from craft, commercial design, and decorative work.

Yes. Open Studios Kommetjie welcomes applications from artists who live and/or work in Kommetjie, and who are building a committed fine art practice.

We look for original work and limited editions with clear authorship and intent. We centre artist-led, conceptually grounded practices that are part of a wider fine art conversation. Applicants should also be active in the field by exhibiting in galleries, curated shows, or public projects. Visit our Applications page to read the application guide, and to request an application pack.

Because the number of artists involved in Open Studios Kommetjie is limited, each year a new selection panel is invited to review applications. This panel includes artists, curators, writers and educators from the art world. You can find out more about each year’s selection panel on our social media. Learn more about the selection process on our Applications page.

Each year, a group of participating artists volunteers to plan and manage Open Studios Kommetjie. The committee changes annually, based on who is able to dedicate sufficient time and energy to the work.

This artist-led approach ensures that the event remains responsive, grounded, and open to fresh perspectives. Organising Open Studio Kommetjie is a year-round commitment, and we draw on our artist network for skills across the fields of design, writing, photography, marketing, and more.

The event is shaped not only by individual practices, but also by collective effort.

Yes. Throughout the year, Open Studios Kommetjie hosts occasional talks and masterclasses for artists in the local community. Follow us on our social media to hear about upcoming sessions and how you can take part.