Santa Barbara artists host studio tour

Santa Barbara Studio Artists will host the seventh annual Open Studio Tour during Labor Day weekend, Sat. and Sun., Aug. 30 and 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in various locations in Santa Barbara. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists and purchase artwork.

More than 40 of Santa Barbara's award-winning visual artists will open their studio doors to the public during this event. These professional artists have their works on display in galleries, museums and collections around the world.

The Opening Gala Exhibition is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Fri., Aug. 29 at The Arts Fund Santa Barbara Gallery, 205 Santa Barbara St.

The exhibition will feature one piece of artwork from each participating studio artist so ticketholders can decide which studios they want to visit during the weekend. The artists will be in attendance at the gala.

Proceeds from the event will benefit The Arts Fund of Santa Barbara, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting artists and arts programming in Santa Barbara County.

For tickets, maps of the tour and more information, call (805) 899-8854 or visit www .santabarbarastudioartists.com.