Bank paints the way for successful arts trail

DRYSDALE Community Bank has jumped on board to support the inaugural Northern Bellarine Arts Trail that is to be held later this year.

The bank has donated $500 to the event, which will go towards advertising and the printing of brochures.

The Northern Bellarine Arts Trail 2019 – Open Studios is being organised by ceramic artist Kaye Clancy, printmaker Pip Williams and painter Linda Gallus, who wanted to give artists living on their side of the Bellarine a chance to take part in a trail.

It will be held on November 2 and November 3 and, with the Bellarine Arts Trail (BAT) becoming a biennial event, the two will be held in alternate years.

Kaye and Pip said more than 20 artists and groups had already signed up to take part in the event, and that registrations were still open.

“This is our first year so we are still finding our way,” Pip said.

“We’ve been aiming the event at artists and groups of artists, and everyone from the area has jumped at it really.

“It’s also opening all different types of networks between artists too… we are discovering all these different groups that we didn’t know were here, and have been talking about ongoing workshops we can do together.”

The BAT’s participating towns include Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff, while the Northern Bellarine Arts Trail 2019 will include Portarlington, Drysdale, St Leonards, Clifton Springs, Indented Head, Mannerim, Leopold and Moolap.

Artists from the Northern Bellarine, who have their own studios, are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in the new event.

This could involve exhibiting, selling and demonstrating techniques and art practices to the public in their own studio.

For more information or to submit your interest, email Kaye on [email protected] or Pip on [email protected].