On June 20th, 2026, the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society opens the gates on one of the most unique events in the Discovery Islands: the Creative Spaces Garden and Studio Tour. For one day, participating artists and gardeners on Cortes open their private spaces to the public — gardens, studios, workshops, and creative corners that are otherwise invisible from the road.
It's an annual fundraiser for the Cortes Island Museum, and it's one of those events that tells you more about this island than any brochure could. Cortes has a thriving arts community — drum makers, potters, painters, carvers, weavers, and writers who chose this island specifically because of what it offers to a creative life. The Studio Tour is a chance to see that community from the inside.
In the past I have actually participated in the Tour, but this summer I find myself a bit overwhlemed by projects and teenagers! I hope to be back on the Tour Schedule Map next year.
What to Expect
The tour is self-guided. Participants receive a map and spend the day moving between properties at their own pace. Each stop is different — some are working studios with pieces for sale, some are extraordinary private gardens, some are both. It's the kind of day where you lose track of time, and that's entirely the point.
Contact the Cortes Island Museum for tickets and the full list of participating properties. The museum is located on Beasley Road next to the Manson's Landing firehall and can be reached at [email protected].
Arts, Community, and the Value of Place
I often tell buyers who are curious about Cortes Island that the arts community here is one of the things that keeps this place from feeling remote. There is a richness to the cultural life on this island — live music, galleries, studios, performances — that surprises people who are expecting isolation. The Creative Spaces Tour is one of the best expressions of that. And for anyone thinking about owning property on Cortes, it's worth understanding that what you're buying into is as much a community as it is a piece of land.
🔗 Cortes Island Museum & Archives
🔗 Tideline — Community Calendar
🔗 Contact Jeramie — Cortes Island Real Estate
Jeramie Ellingsen is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty, specializing in Cortes Island and the Discovery Islands. He has lived on Cortes since 2002.
