Go on the trail for visual art

ART lovers will soon have a great reason to tour the shire with the return of the annual Golden Plains Arts Trail.

Organised through the Golden Plains Arts visual art collective, the two-day event will again see the region’s studios and spaces alike open up to showcase local creatives.

Golden Plains Arts president Jen Jones said this year’s trail will introduce a bevy of new artists and locations.

“We’ve got a record number of venues and a record number of participating artists,” she said.

“There’s a few new private studios opening up and some new artists who’ve joined GP Arts who’ve joined specifically to be part of the arts trail.

“They’ll be at some of the shared venues, which will be held at places like the Bannockburn Stadium, the Teesdale Hall [and] Dereel Hall. Linton Hall will be a new one as well.”

More than 40 artists are registered to take part in the program, which will see more than 20 sites, including both private studios and public venues, acting as exhibition spaces over the weekend.

“It’s hard to pinpoint any standouts,” Ms Jones said.

“We’ll have a range of different mediums. There’ll be some incredible oil paints, pastels, woodwork and pencils. It’ll be a real diverse range.

“It’ll be an even proportion between the north and south; from Ross Creek to Haddon, all through that area, down to two studios close together down south, and a new lady at [Bannockburn’s] Burnside Road.”

Visitors can expect to see many participating artists practising their craft onsite throughout the event. Entry to each site will be free.

Golden Plains Arts secretary Heather Pickerington said the event is about highlighting the region’s creatives.

“It’s to show the diversity of artists across the shire and encourage artists to join in and connect with one another in promoting that,” she said.

“We want to attract people to get out and have a look at the creative things happening in the area.”

Established through Golden Plains Shire in 2008, Golden Plains Arts members have been running the event since 2019.

A brochure and map highlighting each location and artist will be released towards the end of the month.

The brochure will be distributed at local information centres, art galleries and businesses. Otherwise, people can contact Golden Plains Arts members directly via the group’s website.

The Golden Plains Arts Trail will be held from Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 April.