Tour Art Studios, a Meadery, and More at Doors Open Richmond Hill

Attention art lovers, you will want to visit Richmond Hill this month. May hosts four separate Doors Open events throughout the province in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust. Yet, each host puts their own spin on it so that every celebration has its own distinct flavour. While Richmond Hill first began their community event in 2009, this year they have partnered with the Studio Tour to support the city’s local artists.  Mark your calendars this Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 10 am to 4 pm. That’s because Doors Open Richmond Hill will be your ticket to exploring places usually kept under lock and key -  at no cost. This includes the opportunity to tour local art studios and witness the artistic process firsthand, in addition to behind-the-scenes experiences!

Teachers on Call’s online and in-person Richmond Hill tutors are looking forward to the upcoming Doors Open event in partnership with Ontario Heritage Trust. Located in south-central York Region (40 km from Toronto) and considered part of the Greater Toronto Area. Last spring, our in-person and online tutoring service featured, Teachers on Call Celebrates Doors Open Richmond Hill, for the very first time. To mark this year’s event, we are interviewing one of the host organizers, Maggie MacKenzie, Heritage Coordinator with the City of Richmond Hill, to learn what’s in store for 2024.

How to Plan for Doors Open Richmond Hill

It can be a challenge to navigate a whole family through many interesting sites. There’s also a good chance you won’t be able to visit every Doors Open location in one day. We recommend visitors map out their journey in advance, especially if they’re parents with young children.

Check out the full list of Doors Open Richmond Hill sites here to pick your top must-see sites beforehand! Aiming for five sites a day is a good plan for most, but families with little ones might want to aim for a maximum of three, depending on the ages.

In our interview with Maggie MacKenzie, there are some good tips to take advantage of as well, so read on!

An Interview with Maggie MacKenzie, Heritage Coordinator with the City of Richmond Hill

What can first time visitors expect from Doors Open Richmond Hill? 

Doors Open Richmond Hill offers a look at the heritage, architecture, and culture behind doors in our city provided by friendly, passionate people that want to share their sites to all. New this year, Doors Open Richmond Hill is running in conjunction with the Richmond Hill Studio Tour. Local studios and artists will be welcoming the public into their home studios to see their work, view their creative spaces, engage in lively demonstrations, and learn more about their artistic process. So, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the best of both events!

For returning guests, which new sites are participating?

New sites taking part this year include Circling Hawk Honey and Mead (13433 Leslie St, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 1A2), and Richmond Hill United Church (10201 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B2). 

There are many options for art lovers. Please tell us more about the student artists participating from a local high school.

This year, Doors Open Richmond Hill is running in conjunction with the Richmond Hill Studio Tour. Join us for this free, self-guided event across our city, as local galleries, studios and artists welcome the public to see their work, view their creative spaces, engage in lively demonstrations and learn more about the artistic process.

As part of the Studio Tour, we have a student exhibition at Boynton House. Visual Arts Mackenzie and Alexander Mackenzie High School (300 Major MacKenzie Dr W, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3S3) are presenting “Luminescence”, a graduate showcase. The graduating class has curated an art show featuring their most recent and favourite artworks in a variety of mediums.

More information is available on the website for Richmond Hill Studio Tour.

Beyond Richmond Hill, where do your Doors Open visitors come from?

Visitors join us from all over Ontario with a large portion visiting from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Are there volunteer opportunities still available? If yes, what are next steps to get involved?

Our volunteer opportunities for this year are full. Requests for volunteers go out early and we recruit from the City of Richmond Hill Volunteer Database. If you’re interested in volunteering with us for next year, sign up to be a volunteer through the City’s website, here.

What is your favourite tip to share about your event? 

Take advantage of “cluster areas” where there are a number of Doors Open sites in walking distance in one area.  Take the time to appreciate the architecture of the historic buildings featured. Use Doors Open as an opportunity to get a taste of what Richmond Hill has to offer and come back and support the hardworking volunteers to enjoy a program, purchase art or book a private function.

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We hope you enjoy visiting Doors Open Richmond Hill. Remember to keep checking our blog for upcoming events in Toronto and Ottawa with interviews spotlighting Doors Open Toronto and Doors Open Ottawa.

*Pictures provided by City of Richmond Hill.