Art Walk returns for anniversary

AN advent of colour will soon return to the Soldiers Hill area with the first Art Walk event in two years.

The annual initiative, coordinated by members of the Soldiers Hill Artist Collective, will see artworks displayed across 14 venues throughout the suburb next month.

SHAC treasurer Rosey King said the event has always been a creative way to showcase the area the group’s members live and practice in.

“Originally part of the idea of the walk was to showcase the lovely architecture and old buildings we have and the broader streetscapes of Soldiers Hill,” she said.

“It’s a way of showcasing the local businesses and the community as well.

“We’ll have 14 artists involved and it’ll be an ideal time to put it on because we’ll have the beautiful autumn colour as well.”

Participating venues include the Tin Roof Cafe, John Harbour Quality Butcher, North Star Hotel and North Britain Hotel.

The event’s sole open studio will be a new addition to the Art Walk, located next to John Harbour’s on Lydiard Street.

As well as the return of the Art Walk, 2025 will also mark 10 years of SHAC.

As such, the event will be one of many to acknowledge the milestone.

“We’ll have our opening at the Ballarat North Bowling Club on Friday 11 April from 6.30pm,” King said.

“We’ll be inviting previous members who’ve moved on to other things and we’ll have Lynne Makings, one of the influential figures in getting the group started, and she’ll be giving a brief background to SHAC’s beginnings.

“We’ll showcase art old and new there, and we’ll have another event during the solstice weekend in June with workshops, a popup shop, and general celebrations.

“We held that last year and it was very successful. We’ll also have an exhibition out at Ross Creek Gallery so we’re making a bit of an effort to get out and about and engage with the community.”

In keeping with recent iterations, St Columba’s Primary School and Soldiers Hill Kindergarten students will display their own artworks, themed around the number 10, throughout the walk’s duration.

The Art Walk will be held from 11 to 27 April.

A map detailing the 2024 Art Walk locations will be available at Town Hall, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Old Butchers Shop Gallery, and the event’s participating venues.