Every year in late spring, over 250 artists working and living in the eastern, traditionally working-class Paris area known as Belleville open their doors for a few days for free, showing their work and studio space and conversing with fellow artists and art enthusiasts. All mediums are represented, including painting, sculpture, woodworking, street art, photo, performance art, and video. For an authentic encounter with Paris' contemporary art scene (left-bank spots like the Latin Quarter carry mostly dusty vestiges of the past), make sure to reserve some time to amble around the studios and talk to the artists.

Belleville Artists Ateliers Ouverts 2015 Program and Studio Locations:

In 2015, over 250 artists and 120 studios will open their workspaces across Belleville, dispersed around the 10th, 11th, 19th and 20th arrondissements.

Dates: Friday, May 29th through Monday, June 1st, 2015
Where: Over 120 studios in Belleville. Open 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm daily.

Meeting point and information center: Galerie des AAB, 1 rue Francis Picabia, 20th arrondissement, Paris 

Metro: Line 2 (Couronnes or Belleville)

Information by phone: +33 (0)1 77 12 63 13
Visit the official website for a map of the studios

Photos from the Ateliers Ouverts in Years Past:

Need a little inspiration? About.com Paris Travel Contributor Nicole Smith explored the 2012 Open House event in Belleville, documenting it in a series of colorful photos showing Belleville artists, their studios and work.