More than 30 artists from across the Illawarra opened their studios in December 2022 for the enormously successful inaugural Northern Illawarra Art Trail (NIAT) covering Bulli to Helensburgh.
About 2000 visits to studios and more than 16,000 digital media hits confirmed that our area is a natural for meeting the public appetite for art, culture, hospitality and creativity served up in an area of great natural beauty and nature at its dramatic best.
The artists universally delighted in sharing their art, art practice and studio spaces. One artist said: “Seeing other people enjoy our art was such a treat and the sales were the ‘icing on the cake’”.
This inaugural art trail was organised by a team of local creatives, who assisted with everything. In particular:
- Bernardette Camenzuli managed the graphic art underpinning the banner designs, signs, brochures and leaflets;
- Jo Oliver designed the logo and google map;
- Karen Roach stylised the map and leaflets:
- Fred Marsh designed and maintained the website;
- Sue Roach organised communications, printing and T shirts;
- Jennifer Jackson advised on studio requirements;
- Leisa Thomson managed the social media strategy;
- Edith McNally served as NAIT Chair and funding applications;
- Kieran Tapsell provided additional publicity;
- And all participating artists covered their own local area’s letterbox drop as well as installed local signage, brochure distribution and social media content.
The event also received a cultural grant and immense support from Wollongong City Council and Ward 1 Councillor Cameron Walters. One of the project’s primary aims was to establish a community of artists and a connection between that community and their own communities, and I think this has been absolutely achieved.
The next Northern Illawarra Art Trail will be held on April 22 and 23 and will continue to be held twice per year into the future. Anyone interested in any aspect of future NIAT activities can contact the committee via the website.
Visit niarttrail.com
