Philadelphia Open Studio Tours was founded in 1999 as a one-day event by sculptor Karen Brown who wanted to give the public a less formal, more intimate way to view artwork.
Nineteen artists opened their studios that first year, and the response was enthusiastic. In POST’s second season, the group received funding and administrative support from Philadelphia’s Office of Arts and Culture. From 2001 to 2004, POST grew steadily thanks to the efforts of extremely dedicated volunteers. Studio Z and Inliquid.com were instrumental in developing the POST website and the POST Artist Directory as tools to attract a general audience. Sherman Mills and other venues hosted exhibitions of artwork by POST artists.
In 2004, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours sought the fiscal and administrative support of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, the Philadelphia-based, non-profit organization that creates opportunities for visual artists to reach their professional goals. In 2007, more than 285 artists participated in POST and the event received support from more than 60 businesses and organizations.