Passport to the Arts
September 19–20 2026
Please join the Block Island Arts Council for two days of discovery, creativity, and connection as Block Island's arts and crafts community opens its doors to residents and visitors alike!
Passport to the Arts invites you to discover the creativity of Block Island through open studios, hands-on workshops, and live demonstrations led by local artists and craftspeople throughout the island.
Listen to poetry, try your hand at linocut printing or weaving, step inside local painting, ceramics, upholstery, and sculpture studios, discover the art of jewelry making, experience throwing clay on the wheel, create your own rock painting, and explore so much more.
Come meet the artists, make something of your own, and experience the island through the eyes and hands of its creative community.
Free transportation will be provided to artists' studios and workspaces on September 19th, giving you a rare behind-the-scenes look at where it all happens. Workshops and demonstrations continue throughout the weekend. Pick up your passport and map at our welcome station at the Visitors Center, just off the ferry, from 9am to 12pm on Saturday, September 19th, and Sunday, September 20th.
The weekend culminates in a fundraising celebration on Sunday afternoon at the Spring Street Gallery. We'll be raffling off a 250th commemorative glass float by Glass Station artist Eben Horton and celebrating Block Island's vibrant creative community together. All proceeds stay local, providing educational resources, materials, and grant funding for our artists and community.
Stamp your passport, meet the makers, get a raffle ticket to win a special commemorative orb, and take home a piece of the island's artistic spirit!
Open Studio Tours &
Artists Events
Saturday, September 19
11 AM–2 PM | Open Studio Tours — Free Taxi Shuttle
Explore Block Island’s vibrant arts community with free taxi shuttle service
to participating artists’ studios.
9am - 12pm: Passport pick up and workshop sign up: Start at the Visitors Center across from the Block Island Ferry. Pick up your passport, and then get it stamped at each stop on the open house tour, workshops, and demos, to get entered in our raffle to win a special prize! 11am to 1:45pm Shuttle pickup: Taxi Stand by the Block Island Ferry. The shuttle will make stops at the following artist studios:
Eileen & Steve Miller — Painting & Photography
Eileen Miller | Steve MillerDrew Wheelan — Upholstery
Sue Brown Black and Michel Rosenthal— Island Fiber Arts
Island Fiber ArtsChristopher “Crugie” Riccio — Mixed Media Sculpture
crugie.comJosie Merck — Painting
josie-merck.squarespace.comSean & Leslie Hartnett — Sculpture, Terracotta Majolica Relief & Oils
Sean Hartnett | Leslie HartnettJohn Warfel — Ceramics
John WarfelPeruko Ccopacatty — Metal Sculpture
Block Island Club
ccopacatty.com
Free Artists’ Events in Town
9 - 11:30AM | Farmers Market showcasing locally made jewelry, clothing, artwork, and much more!
Legions Park, 26 West Side Road
11 –2 PM | Mary Jameson — Seaweed Prints: Demonstration & Exhibition
Parlor, 30 Water Street, 2nd Floor2–4:30 PM | Sue Marte — Linocut Workshop
Parlor, 30 Water Street, 2nd Floor11:30–4 PM | Claire Marschak — Drawing Workshop
Patio in front of MarMars Boutique, 30 Water Street
5-7 PM | John Warfel and Eileen Miller Art Opening and Reception
105 Spring Street, Spring Street Gallery
Sunday, September 20
Walkable Events & Workshops
10–11 AM | Susanna Gardner — Poetry Reading
Parlor, 30 Water Street (2nd floor)12–2 PM | Touch & Talk: Jewelry Tools with Martha “MarMar” Andrew
MarMar Boutique, 30 Water Street
11 AM–4:30 PM | Spring Street Gallery Artists’ Workshops & Exhibitions
Join participating artists for workshops, demonstrations, and exhibitions on the lawn. Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a special commemorative orb, and help support artists on the island!
Spring Street Gallery
105 Spring Street
11 AM–1 PM: Sue Marte — Henna Hand Art
12–2 PM: Tracey Lee Michaelson — Rock Painting
1–3 PM: Eileen Miller — Abstract Painting Workshop
1–3 PM: Niovi Forbes — Ceramic Workshop
2-3pm: Bill Sellar — Solo Drumming
4:30–6:30 PM | Artists’ Closing Reception & Raffle Drawing
Spring Street Gallery
105 Spring Street
Please join us for our closing reception and raffle drawing, featuring a chance to win a 250th Commemorative Glass Orb created by artist Eben Horton of The Glass Station. Light refreshments provided by Virginica’s and Persephone’s.
Enjoy music by Steve Lighty as we celebrate the artists and close out the weekend!
Passport to the Arts started with it’s first event in 2023. Block Island Arts Council is committed to continue this amazing island-wide event, having it take place over two days in 2026, that supports local artists and crafts people.
