Thirty years ago, a group of about a dozen Gowanus artists decided to open their studio doors to their neighbors. This October, Gowanus Open Studios returns for its 30th year as one of the largest open studios events in New York City, with more than 400 artists opening their doors across more than 90 locations on the weekend of October 17 and 18.

Hosted by Arts Gowanus, Gowanus Open Studios offers the public free access to hundreds of working artists' studios and venues, and a rare look inside the former factories, warehouses, and studio buildings that make Gowanus one of Brooklyn's most vital creative neighborhoods. Artists will be on hand to discuss their work, share their processes, and show their latest projects, and visitors can buy work directly from the people who made it.

Thirty Years of Keeping Gowanus Creative

What began as a self-organized weekend has grown into a year-round arts organization. Today, Arts Gowanus runs exhibitions, public art, and artist programs throughout the year, and advocates to keep Gowanus a place where artists can afford to live and work, even as the neighborhood changes rapidly around them.

That advocacy is now taking physical form. During the 2021 Gowanus rezoning, Arts Gowanus negotiated a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with waterfront developers that secures more than 100 permanently affordable artist studios across 11 new development sites along the Gowanus Canal. Studios rent at $1.66 per square foot per month, with annual increases capped at 2%. In each building, one deeply subsidized Fellowship studio, funded by Arts Gowanus, is reserved for artists earning less than 50% of the Area Median Income. The CBA also includes a 2,000-square-foot Arts Gowanus community center with an exhibition space and three residency studios, expected to open in 2028.

Twenty-two of these studios are now occupied, and during GOS 2026, visitors can step inside them for the first time to meet the artists at work. 

“Thirty years ago, a handful of artists opened their doors to their neighbors. Today, hundreds of artists do the same, and thanks to the permanently affordable studios we fought for in the rezoning, artists will be making work in Gowanus for the next 30 years too. We're staying, we're here, and Gowanus is going to stay an arts and culture focused neighborhood no matter what." says Johnny Thornton, Executive Director of Arts Gowanus.

2026 Highlights

In addition to hundreds of individual studios, visitors can experience special exhibitions and events throughout the weekend:

• Free access to hundreds of private studios and venues showcasing local art.

• 30 for 30 at Union Channel (240 Third Ave.): an anniversary exhibition of 30 Gowanus artists, bringing together longtime Open Studios participants and artists showing for the first time, including graduating Arts Gowanus Fellow Sashia Jiang.

• Affordable CBA studios at The Shop (420 Carroll St.): visit artists in the first subsidized studios secured through the rezoning, including graduating Fellow Shelby Jackson in her studio.

• Work by our Exploring the Arts intern at 540 President St., through Arts Gowanus's partnership with the youth arts nonprofit.

• The GOS 30th anniversary after party at Union Channel (240 Third Ave.) on Sunday, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

• Support from local sponsors and businesses throughout the neighborhood.

Gowanus Open Studios will feature venues and studios from Pacific St. to 19th St. and from Smith St. to Fifth Ave. More than 10,000 printed maps will be distributed across the neighborhood, with wayfinding signage to guide visitors. A digital map and directory of participating artists is available at artsgowanus.org.

From painting to performance, sculpture to street art, come see what three decades of creativity look like in Gowanus. Step inside the studios, connect with artists, and help #KeepGowanusCreative.