ArtSouthWA brings a vibrant art trail to the Great Southern

For lovers of art, crafting, and WA's beautiful Great Southern region, ArtSouthWA presents the Southern Art and Craft Trail. Around again for its 19th year, the Art Trail starts Saturday 24 September, running for 16 days until 9 October. Covering the greater southern area of WA from Nannup to Lake Grace and more, you can explore 55 exhibitions in studios, public art, galleries and pop-ups. Attracting over 10,000 Art Trail visitors each year, the event is revitalised with new artists, galleries and studios getting on board for 2022.

About the Trail

Originating in 2003, the Trail then featured 10 towns, 36 venues and over 100 artists, which has now since grown to over 90 venues, representing more than 300 artists every year. The Art Trail creates an opportunity to enjoy the art, food, wine, and make the most of the Great Southern, and visitors can even explore the many ‘mini’ trails throughout the region. Exhibitions are presented by professional artists, as well as hobbyists, meaning you'll be able to meet and greet with the artists and discover one-of-a kind art. Over the past twenty years ArtSouthWA has delivered:

• 1,250 visual art exhibitions
• 147 workshops, community involvement opportunities, demonstrations and artist talks
• Represented over 6,600 regional artists through membership and the Art Trail
• Clocked up an average of 20,000 volunteer hours to manage the event

And been managed primarily by artists who concurrently run their own art practices and participate in the Art Trail.

Art Trail Tours

ArtSouthWA has teamed up with Albany-based Busy Blue Bus tour service to create two different Art Trail Tours that take the stress out of planning your art experience. One tour takes visitors from Albany to Denmark and Walpole visiting multiple galleries and exhibitions (including glass-making, photography and more) and includes a delicious lunch at the Nornabar bistro. The other leaves Albany for Mt Barker and Kojonup and also includes a delicious winery lunch at Gilbert's Wines, with a final stop at the beautiful Gallery Aura.

Schools on the Art Trail and more

Giving students the chance to show off their work, the Art Trail features 16 schools in 2022,  which can be seen in retail venues and pop-ups across multiple towns. Two disability service providers are exhibiting for the first time and two workshops are also being offered in 2022 at the WA Museum of the Great Southern and in Mt Barker. The Museum will host 4 days of community art workshops, where families drop in to paint their own piece which will become part of a larger artwork, and in Mt Barker, artists can attend a weekend workshop to learn about ‘Walldog’ Mural painting, and create a new town mural. You can pick up a copy of the Art Trail guide booklet at visitor centres, libraries, local councils, galleries and cafes throughout the Great Southern region. You can also view the booklet online here. 

With thanks to ArtSouthWA's sponsors:

Regional Arts WA | TourismWA | The City of Albany | RDA Great Southern | Albany Advertiser | CBH Group | Albany Entertainment Centre | Southerly Magazine | Shire of Plantagenet | Great Southern Couriers | Shire of Manjimup | Southern Ports | Designer Dirt

Explore more of the beautiful Great Southern here.