The 26th Annual North Coast Open Studios (NCOS) will take place on weekends June 6-7 and June 13-14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a kickoff art night on Friday, June 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features 150 local artists opening their studios to the public between Eureka and Trinidad, and east to Willow Creek. A DreamMaker project of the Ink People, NCOS offers visitors the chance to see artists in their creative spaces, purchase art directly from makers, and enjoy the 'creative disaster' of working studios. Some artists are open by appointment year-round, and the Friday kickoff overlaps with Eureka Friday Night Markets.
This event matters because it strengthens the local art ecosystem by connecting the public directly with artists, supporting the regional creative economy, and fostering community engagement. Funded by Humboldt Creative Alliance, the County of Humboldt’s Measure D, the Ink People Center for Arts and Culture, Eureka Cultural Arts District, and Redwood Coast Energy Authority, NCOS provides free access to art and helps sustain Humboldt County's vibrant visual arts scene. It exemplifies how grassroots, artist-led initiatives can thrive without relying on major institutional backing.