What attracts artists to Ilfracombe? Beautiful architecture, huge Georgian terraces
and gothic-style Victorian mansions, as well as cottages dating back to a time when
Ilfracombe was a seafaring town. The dramatic coast has an abundance of sea birds
and wild flowers, and inland the hills, woods, moors and rivers provide walks that
can inspire anyone to stop and gaze.
In 2012, Damien Hirst, an internationally known artist with strong links to the town
created 'Verity', a 20-metre bronze/steel statue weighing in at 25 tonnes and she
took her place on the pier. Following this wonderful gift to the town, new art
galleries and shops started opening, including Damien Hirst's own gallery 'Other
Criteria' and his restaurant 'The Quay' and an art renaissance ensued.
Ilfracombe Art Trail was the brainchild of Sue Hutchins, an artist from Bristol who moved to Ilfracombe 9 years ago. Bristol has many art trails and Sue thought that Ilfracombe would be an ideal place to host a similar event. Not only does it have an amazing array of talented artists but it has a good community spirit. After visiting Bristol's Easton Art Trail in 2014, Sue and her friend Jo Beech decided to launch Ilfracombe Art Trail. There was a lot of work to do and no money to do it with. But after generous donations from Ilfracombe's Town Councillors and the Ilfracombe Charity Book shop, Ilfracombe Art Trail was launched. A committee was formed, all women, the website was built and flyers designed. Local businesses offered their help free of charge, local radio and newspapers picked up the story and registration forms started coming in. The response was overwhelming, with some artists offering to share their houses with others who didn't have a venue of their own. Three house-owners let visiting artists use their homes even though they weren't exhibiting themselves. When Ilfracombe Art Trail opened its doors on 9th-10th May 2015, it had 27 open houses, 37 artists, 5 open gardens, Saturday night poetry in the Museum, Sunday night comic poetry in a pub, and 2 live bands playing in pubs. There was a poetry workshop, a 'meet the author' session in the Library, a willow-weaving workshop in the community garden and a large community painting happening in an artists' studio. There was even a group of wandering musicians who busked to entertain the crowds. As a sign of the event' s success, one venue counted 300 visitors through their door over the weekend.
Ilfracombe Art Trail 7th-8th May 2016 is proving to be even bigger, so successful that registration had to be closed early to maintain its ethos of an art trail that could be followed on foot over a weekend. With 29 venues, over 45 gallery-standard artists, free workshops (for adults and children), music and poetry, there will be something for everyone. It demonstrates that anything can be achieved if you have a group of dedicated, committed people and a town with a strong community spirit and a big heart. This is one event not to be missed.
Ilfracombe Art Trail was the brainchild of Sue Hutchins, an artist from Bristol who moved to Ilfracombe 9 years ago. Bristol has many art trails and Sue thought that Ilfracombe would be an ideal place to host a similar event. Not only does it have an amazing array of talented artists but it has a good community spirit. After visiting Bristol's Easton Art Trail in 2014, Sue and her friend Jo Beech decided to launch Ilfracombe Art Trail. There was a lot of work to do and no money to do it with. But after generous donations from Ilfracombe's Town Councillors and the Ilfracombe Charity Book shop, Ilfracombe Art Trail was launched. A committee was formed, all women, the website was built and flyers designed. Local businesses offered their help free of charge, local radio and newspapers picked up the story and registration forms started coming in. The response was overwhelming, with some artists offering to share their houses with others who didn't have a venue of their own. Three house-owners let visiting artists use their homes even though they weren't exhibiting themselves. When Ilfracombe Art Trail opened its doors on 9th-10th May 2015, it had 27 open houses, 37 artists, 5 open gardens, Saturday night poetry in the Museum, Sunday night comic poetry in a pub, and 2 live bands playing in pubs. There was a poetry workshop, a 'meet the author' session in the Library, a willow-weaving workshop in the community garden and a large community painting happening in an artists' studio. There was even a group of wandering musicians who busked to entertain the crowds. As a sign of the event' s success, one venue counted 300 visitors through their door over the weekend.
Ilfracombe Art Trail 7th-8th May 2016 is proving to be even bigger, so successful that registration had to be closed early to maintain its ethos of an art trail that could be followed on foot over a weekend. With 29 venues, over 45 gallery-standard artists, free workshops (for adults and children), music and poetry, there will be something for everyone. It demonstrates that anything can be achieved if you have a group of dedicated, committed people and a town with a strong community spirit and a big heart. This is one event not to be missed.
ILFRACOMBE ART TRAIL
7th-8th May 2016
For further information please contact
Ilfracombe Art Trail on ilfracombe.art.trail@gmail.com
or visit the website
http://artilfracombe.co.uk.
