Tybee Tour de Art Celebrates One Year
November 19, 2022, was the launch of the first-ever Tybee Tour de Art, a seasonal arts market featuring an impressive array of vendors and artisans selling handmade crafts and other unique finds at various locations throughout Tybee’s north end. The event was an instant success with more Tour de Art markets taking place periodically over the last year. The next iteration is set for Saturday, Nov. 18, marking the market’s first anniversary. The upcoming Tour de Art is also the first market of the holiday season, so the event is sure to be a jolly good time.
Like many things, it all started with a thought.
“After going to several pop ups, I asked myself why Tybee didn’t have any art events. So I brainstormed and came up with an idea to have a monthly art fest where artists were set up at local businesses,” said Charissa Murray, Tybee Tour de Art’s co-director.
She presented the idea to the Tybee Arts Association, and they absolutely loved it. A committee was formed shortly thereafter and Murray and local artist Kelly Jones were named the event directors. They wanted to use the Tour de Art as a way to drive business to Tybee’s north end, which is where most of the island’s shops and galleries are located along with TAA’s office.
“Most events on Tybee take place by the pier and we wanted this to be a boon for the north end,” Murray explained.
Since its start, the Tour de Art has flourished, growing from about 50 participating artisans at the beginning to about 70 at present. Shoppers can look forward to a wide variety of handcrafted artworks and gifts including jewelry, paintings, fiber art, pottery, clothing, woodworking and more. To celebrate the anniversary, special Tybee Tour de Art t-shirts will be available at the Irritable Pelican Gallery.
The art market is a great event to shop for unique gifts that you won’t find anywhere else while supporting the local economy. Murray encourages the public to shop at Tour de Art because it keeps dollars on the island:
“Buy local! It’s so easy to shop and support local businesses this holiday season. When you keep it local, you are supporting an entire community instead of a corporation.”
Furthermore, when you shop at Saturday’s market, a portion of the proceeds will go toward funding children’s programs at Tybee Arts Association. Shopping locally is one small action that can have a big impact on the community. So, get in the holiday spirit and show your support for local artists and makers by shopping at Tybee Tour de Art this Saturday. Visit tybeetourdeart.com/november-18th/ for details about vendors and participating locations.
