New direction for Surf Coast Arts Trail

The popular Surf Coast Arts Trail will not run in its traditional form this year, but the transition to a new format means local artists will still be celebrated.

The Surf Coast Arts Trail would attract more than 5,000 visitors and allowed people to enjoy local artists’ work at more than 70 venues, including private studios, galleries, and creative venues, which would open for one weekend in August.

The council had scheduled this year’s event for this weekend, but due to government restrictions, organisers reconsidered how to share local art, and with the help of the Surf Coast Shire council created PORTAL.

PORTAL features a range of virtual content, and this week will host a panel discussion called The Making of the Surf Coast Arts Trail, featuring Cr Margot Smith, Julie Dyer, Pat McKenzie and Cinnamon Stephens.

Cr Smith said she was glad the new platform was providing unique insights into the trail.

“I’m really looking forward to joining panellists Julie Dyer (Council’s former Arts Development Officer) and well-known Surf Coast artists Cinnamon Stevens and Pat McKenzie to discuss how the event came into being and its evolution into the popular event it now is.

“This weekend would’ve been the Surf Coast Arts Trail event, as we knew it. While we’re all a bit sad that it can’t happen the way we planned, I’m so pleased it’s still going ahead as a virtual trail of online studio tours. Anyone will be able to peer into the studios of many well-known Surf Coast artists via Facebook Live, Instagram and our website.

“I think we all need a bit of art in our life right now and this is a wonderful way to showcase and celebrate our incredible local creatives in the current climate.”

The conversation on the trail is one of the Sunday Morning Sessions taking place throughout August.

A range of local creatives will speak on upcoming topics ‘Theatre Matters – within and beyond the Surf Coast’, ‘Art, activism and place’, and ‘Where to now? The future of the Arts on the Surf Coast’. Each session begins at 11am.

Cr David Bell said these sessions were a great opportunity to learn more about artists in the region.

“We have such an incredible talent pool of artists on the Surf Coast, and these sessions are a great opportunity to delve into local stories and hear insights into how art connects us and celebrates our identity.”

To visit PORTAL head to surfcoastartstrail.com.au.