EASTHAMPTON – With the number of coronavirus cases increasing and colder weather sweeping in, event planners have to shift how they will host their events.

Among those is Cottage Street Studios’ Annual Holiday Open Studios, which will be presented online this year. Rather than hosting the event at Cottage Street Studios like they typically do, Lynn Latimer from Latimer Glass Studio said artists are in charge of their marketing strategy through their websites and email lists.

“Even though we are not seeing one another, the artist are still coming into the building and making things. This is a lot of people’s livelihood, we are still hoping to have those interactions and also continue with our livelihood. We sell things at open studios and it is an important thing and I feel like the people who come are really happy to be supporting local artists,” said Cara Taylor who owns Taylor Ceramics.

Taylor will offer online shopping for customers on her website, www.carataylor.com. She is also allowing people to participate in a virtual tour on zoom if they want to see some of the pieces.

Evelyn Snyder of Kaleidoscope Potters says she will offer online shopping on her website, www.kscopepottery.com. Her pieces are available for shipping and pick-up.

Snyder currently has a sale that appeals to her nationwide customer base. For the local customers, she will have a second pop-up sale that is only available for pick-up. The pop-up sale will run from Dec. 1 to 15.

Latimer said this will be the first December event missed in 33 years. “The virus is making it a challenge for people to stay connected and informed about how to still communicate and buy work from artists and craftspeople. We want them to know we are here and working, making creative and beautiful work and they can still keep in touch and find out how to purchase work online,”she said.

On the studio’s homepage, it gives a list of artists who will participate in the annual event and if you click on a name it will give you the artist website, contact information, and social media accounts. The memo lets people know that some artists will be selling their items on their websites, offering online sales, pop up second sales with curbside pickup, and shop by appointment options.

Latimer told Reminder Publishing that The Annual Holiday Open Studios is a heartfelt event for the artists to welcome the public into the mill building and the individual studios. She said that they meet new people, explain designs and techniques, and ‘help people find personal holiday gifts.

Residents should keep an eye out on The Cottage Street Studios webpage, www.cottagestreetstudios.com as there will be updates on the annual event.