LODDON Valley Arts Trail is making a statement this year.
The October 3-5 program not only clusters events around Boort, Wedderburn, Inglewood and Bridgewater but also takes in new venues in places like Logan, Calivil and Mysia.
“It’s a different kind of festival, taking advantage of Loddon’s heritage venues and unique places,” volunteer co-ordinator Rosemary Sorensen said at Monday’s program launch.
“The support of the shire council, community groups, artists from right across the region and of the committees that manage many of the venues is central to this ambitious program.
“It takes a shire to make a festival, and we’re saying, loud and proud, that we’re out there – in every way.”
Mayor Dan Straub said the Arts Trail was a wonderful example of how the community collaborated to achieve a shared vision.
“We often say Loddon Shire is really a community of communities but they have all got together to make the Arts Trail a success,” he said.
“From farmers to Men’s Sheds to service clubs to businesses, they’ve all pitched in to create something that we can all be proud of.
“That also translates into a major economic boost for our communities, with the number of visitors from outside the region here and travelling around for the weekend.”
Cr Straub said the quality and variety of artists exhibiting on the Arts Trail was testament to the hard work of organisers since the event began, but it wasn’t all one way.
“The artists themselves will get to exhibit their works in some pretty unique locations around our shire,” he said.
“We hope they enjoy these venues as much as our communities will enjoy seeing them used in this unique way.”
Tenar Dwyer, who is creating an exhibition in Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House alongside the Town Hall, says it’s good to see the Arts Trail blooming into a busy festival.
“We’re installing an exhibition called Tribute to the Loddon that is intriguing and very beautiful,” Ms Dwyer says. “That will complement the works of local artists in a show we’re calling Re:Form, which is all about memory, transformation and identity.
“The bottom line for Loddon Valley Arts this year is we want to give people the space to feel, to think, to experience, to see, do, share and enjoy,” Ms Sorensen says. “It’s been amazing to see so many regional artists ready to be part of something new and untried.
“These places and these landscapes are perfect for showing everything from Crafty Arts in Bridgewater, to Remembrance art installations in Wedderburn, to shows put together by Boort artists. “The photography show in Kingower is called Nowhere but Somewhere, and that’s what this is all about.”