Longmont's art community continues to expand, and there is no better venue to see that expansion than the Longmont Studio Tours Preview Exhibition at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road, September 6 through 28, 2008. This year, sixty-five artists will participate in the Longmont Studio Tour, and each of them contributes a work to the Preview Exhibition.

The Preview Exhibition is a great opportunity to see the wide variety of art being created in Longmont today. Contemporary media from fiber art to fused glass, from metalwork to mosaic, as well as more traditional forms like oils, watercolor, and photography, are represented in this show. On Friday, September 12, from 6 to 9 pm, there will be a public reception for the exhibition at the Longmont Museum with many of the artists present. Every year, it's one of the biggest parties in the Longmont art world, and it's open to the public.

For a more in-depth look at a particular artist, there is no substitute for touring their studio. The Longmont Studio Tour, a companion event to the Preview Exhibition, will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, September 20, and from noon to 5 pm on Sunday, September 21. Admission to the Preview Exhibition and the Studio Tour is free. Pick up a map at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center or many other places around the community.

The Longmont Museum & Cultural Center is located at 400 Quail Road in Longmont, Colorado. It is open 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, Wednesday evenings until 8 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays, and closed Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Museum at 303 651-8374, or visit their website, www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum.htm