Artists and Friends Gather to Celebrate

The South Coast Artists annual summer celebration took place at Weatherlow Farms in Westport on June 19. It was a perfect summer evening to enjoy the picturesque setting of Weatherlow’s rolling fields and scenic views in all directions. The approximately 125 attendees could not help feeling inspired by the views and camaraderie.

The Tour Kickoff party welcomes all SCA members, their family members, and SCA Sponsors to gather, make new friends, enhance existing friendships, and celebrate our vibrant arts community. Samples of members artwork were on display, and a vast array of culinary delights was beautifully arranged on banquet tables festooned with twinkling lights.

Event coordinator and SCA Vice President, Lindsey Epstein commented “The lively crowd of artists, friends, and sponsors celebrated together with sparkling conversation, art, food, and drink.”

The evening’s featured speaker was SCA president emerita, Kelly Milukas, whose energetic presentation helped newer members understand the history of SCA. She also spoke about the evolution of the party itself, which began years ago as “Distribution Day” for the summer’s Open Studio Tour. As the organization grew from a handful of artists to approximately 200, the event evolved into an annual opportunity for artists, sponsors and friends to kick off the Tour season with a fun party.

Milukas noted that South Coast Artists is a volunteer run organization, and events like the kickoff party would not be possible without a fabulous team of volunteers. She pointed out the many volunteers and cheered, “Whether you helped to stuff bags, assemble signs, swept the floor, or brought food to an event- YOU have helped make this organization what it is today.” Her contagious enthusiasm spread throughout the crowd.

As the event drew to a close, artist Galen Snow exclaimed, “What an amazing and inspiring evening!”

By the end of the party, attendees were energized with renewed goals, a sense of camaraderie, knowing their peers felt the same, ready to get their work out to the public to make a positive impact on our local communities. Mark your calendars for the Tours this summer: July 19-20 and August 16-17, 2025 and find out what inspires so many artists to gather in the magical Farm Coast region of southeastern Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Explore the Tour

Our 2025 Tour brochure and maps are now available at most of our Sponsor locations and from our artists.

We encourage you to download our NEWLY UPDATED, free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play. You can also view a digital and interactive version of the brochure with more images and information from each artist.

South Coast Artists is supported, in part, through a grant from the Dartmouth Cultural Council and Westport Cultural Council agencies, and the Mass Cultural Council. It is underwritten by a grant from Westport’s Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust and is also made possible, in part, by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

South Coast Artists, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, educates, represents, and supports artists living and working in the coastal towns of Tiverton and Little Compton, RI, and Westport and Dartmouth, MA. Each summer SCA sponsors studio tours and this year the 22nd annual SCA Open Studio Tour takes place on the weekends of July 19-20 and August 16-17. SCA also provides educational events and grants for emerging artists.