The annual Chelsea–Wakefield Studio Tour returned to the Gatineau Hills this autumn, offering residents and visitors a rare chance to step into the working spaces of local artists. Now in its 38th year, the self-guided route opened 21 studios over two weekends, giving people a behind-the-scenes look at how ceramics, paintings, jewellery and other works come to life.
Dates, hours and draw
Studios welcomed the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 and 27, and again on Oct. 3 and 4. Organizers schedule the tour to coincide with the region's fall colours along the Gatineau River, an added draw for people travelling the rural back roads. The event typically attracts more than 3,000 visitors across the two weekends.
What visitors can expect
The tour emphasises proximity to the creative process. Rather than seeing finished pieces on gallery walls, visitors can watch makers at work, chat with them about technique and inspiration, and view kilns, easels and benches where projects are underway. The roster this year spans a wide range of media:
- painting
- sculpture
- functional and decorative ceramics
- jewellery
- woodworking
- photography
- mosaic and glass
Profiles from the route
Among the participants are long-time contributors and newcomers. In Chelsea, landscape painter Erin Thibault works from a light-filled studio overlooking the river and the surrounding forest. Her canvases, often drawn from memory, blend local scenes with influences from time spent in places such as Arizona and the Gulf of Mexico. Largely self-taught, she began painting in 2009 and later pursued workshops in France; she now runs workshops in Chelsea.
In Wakefield, painter Eva Meyer operates from a studio on chemin Gendron. Her work evolved from spontaneous marker drawings she used to process emotions; it has grown into an intuitive practice characterised by vivid, dreamlike interpretations of forests and mountains. In her artist statement, Meyer indicates a desire to teach painting to people recovering from difficult life experiences.
Potter Bhajan Cooke, based on chemin des Alouettes in Wakefield, produces large carved vases. Her pieces often feature birds, flowers and cloud motifs in deep indigo glazes, an imagery she uses as part of her creative language.
"Visitors can see work in progress and speak directly with the people making them," said tour organisers in describing the event's core appeal.
Local context and wider impact
The studio tour is both a community celebration and a small but meaningful economic stimulus for the rural parts of Gatineau and neighbouring Chelsea. By directing foot and vehicle traffic onto secondary roads during peak foliage, the event blends cultural tourism with seasonal scenic travel. For artists, the tour presents a direct sales opportunity and a way to build relationships with collectors and residents.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of studios | 21 |
| Event year | 38th |
| Typical attendance | 3,000+ |
| Hours | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Weekends | Sept. 26–27 and Oct. 3–4 |
For Gatineau residents and visitors, the tour reinforces the creative identity of the Hills and the small communities that dot its landscape. It also highlights how cultural events can leverage natural assets—such as the fall colours along the Gatineau River—to boost visibility for local makers. Whether people come intending to buy or simply to observe, the route offers an intimate portrait of the region's artistic life.
The Chelsea–Wakefield Studio Tour continues to be a tangible example of how rural arts initiatives sustain both cultural practice and community ties in the Gatineau Hills.
