New guide to showcase Surf Coast’s after-hours arts scene

VISITORS to this year's Surf Coast Arts Trail will be encouraged to stick around after dark, with a new guide highlighting live music, theatre and other creative events across the shire.

Surf Coast Shire is launching Arts Trail After Hours, an online guide promoting performances and events taking place after 4pm on 1 August, the Saturday of the arts trail weekend.

The initiative aims to complement the annual arts trail by showcasing venues including breweries, cafes, restaurants, bookshops, community halls and theatres, while encouraging visitors to extend their stay in the region.

Councillor Liz Pattison said many of the trail's estimated 15,000 visitors travelled from outside the Surf Coast.

"We want to ensure that they know what's on and that they get to see, hear and appreciate the best that we have to offer after all of the studios and galleries have closed for the night," she said.

"We hope the guide might encourage visitors to turn day trips into weekend trips and inspire local performers to consider hitting the stage for the Saturday night audiences."

Torquay Taphouse owner Renae Ranger welcomed the initiative, saying it would provide more opportunities to showcase local performers.

"The arts trail is fantastic for our community, especially given all of the creatives that live in the area, and we love the opportunity to be involved," she said.

"It's a whole new dimension for the trail, and we've got some great venues in town, on the Great Ocean Road and in the region that offer great music.

"We usually have solo performers on a Friday and Saturday night and it would be great to do something special for Arts Trail After Hours, showcasing what we can do to support local performing artists."

Venue operators wanting to include an event in the guide can contact the shire's arts development team via artsteam@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or 5261 0600.

This Surf Coast Arts Trail will be held on 1–2 August.