Tillett Gardens
An arts colony on St Thomas in an old Danish farm, with studios around a courtyard.
Updated 3 September 2026
Jim and Rhoda Tillett bought an old Danish farm at Tutu in 1959 and turned it into a silkscreen studio and then an arts colony, and the compound still works that way: studios and galleries around a planted courtyard where painters, jewellers, glassworkers and potters have space. Concerts and an arts and crafts fair run in the courtyard through the season. It is the island's oldest arts institution.
What's there
- The studio courtyard - working spaces for painters, jewellers and potters around a garden.
- The Danish farm buildings - the eighteenth-century fabric the colony occupies.
- The Tillett silkscreens - the fabric work the compound was founded on.
- The courtyard events - concerts and craft fairs through the season.
When to go
December to April is when the events programme runs. Studios keep individual hours through the year. The arts and crafts fairs fall on set dates.
What to expect
Individual studios open on their own hours and several may be shut on any given day. Outside events the courtyard is quiet. It is small and two hours covers it.
Nearby
Charlotte Amalie is west, and Red Hook is east.
What to pack for Tillett Gardens
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
