Many artists call the Bellarine home, and it will be a delight to see their work on display next weekend in the North Bellarine Arts Trail.
More than 50 local artists will have their work showcased across a network of venues throughout the peninsula across the two-day event.
Twenty-nine venues are opening their doors for the trail, creating a visual art journey spanning from Curlewis to St Leonards.
Hosted within studios, galleries and public halls, the arts trail promotes accessibility to art and highlights the incredible talent we have in the region.
Bellarine Peninsula Arts has curated the trail, featuring works by individual artists and community arts groups including St Leonards Creative Arts, Bellarine Woodworkers, Portarlington Lifestyle Village Art Group and Artisans of Australia.
Bellarine Secondary students’ work will also be on display, painting a picture of the future of art in the Bellarine.
The artworks span a variety of painting mediums, mosaics, drawings, ceramics, prints, textiles and more, quite literally illustrating the breadth of techniques used by our region’s artists.
Established in 2019 following the success of the Bellarine Arts Trail, the North Bellarine iteration quickly gathered momentum, showcasing 75 artists in 2020 prior to the pandemic.
It’s encouraging to see this event continuing to grow again, gaining interest from both the arts community and the general public.
Fostering creativity in the region, particularly given how many talented artists live here, is vital for the success of arts and culture in the Bellarine.
Regardless of your experiences or your technical abilities, engaging in the arts offers numerous a wide range of mental health benefits.
Whether it’s attending a gallery exhibition or taking an art class, participating in the arts unlocks different parts of the mind while boosting emotional wellbeing and enhancing creativity.
I encourage you to venture out and discover the wonderful artistic talent we have here on the Bellarine on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 March. Pencil it in.
If you can’t get along to the Arts Trail next weekend, Greater Geelong has an extensive public art collection that can be enjoyed year-round.
The Geelong Arts and Culture Trails App is free to download from Apple and Android stores. It provides detailed information about several public art displays, and maps out galleries, public artworks, street art, heritage buildings and First Nations stories.
I encourage you to go out and see all the diverse art we have in the region.
