Art in DUMBO has announced that DUMBO Open Studios will take place on April 26th and 27th, 2025, featuring 155 artists who will open their studios to the public across the Brooklyn waterfront. The weekend kicks off with the Sharpe-Walentas Open Studios reception on April 25th, offering a look at 17 artists in the annual residency program. Participants include artists from five residency programs: BRIClab Contemporary Art, Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program, New York Studio School, and Triangle NYC. The article also details the history of the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, which began in 1991 with support from the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation and later the Walentas Family Foundation.
This event matters because it preserves DUMBO's distinct artistic character and provides a rare opportunity for the public to engage directly with artists in their creative workspaces. The Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program is one of the most competitive residencies in New York City, awarding rent-free studio space to visual artists, and the open studios highlight the work of the 2024 cohort. The event also underscores Two Trees Management's long-term commitment to subsidizing cultural institutions and community groups in DUMBO, reinforcing the neighborhood's identity as a vibrant arts hub.