Granite Belt Art & Craft Trail - Arts Trail Injected with Tacking Tough Times Funding

Arts Trail Injected with Tacking Tough Times Funding

Granite Belt Art & Craft Trail is one of 36 community projects that will share in $1.3 million of funding.

Thanks to the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal's Tackling Tough Times Together program, the Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail is one of 36 community-led projects that is celebrating the news that they will be sharing in $1.3 million of funding.

Arts trail founder Rosy Chapman worked closely with member for Southern Downs, James Lister, on their application to offer the Arts Trail as part of a recovery plan to build economic resilience and diversity.

“We are thrilled to announce GBART has been awarded $20,000 to put towards reducing social isolation and enhancing economic renewal through the Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Open Studios Event 2020.

“The Tackling Tough Times Together grant program helps grassroots community organisations support local economic recovery. Both new and returning artisans are experiencing first-hand what the arts trail is doing for the Granite Belt’s economy and bringing the community together.

“GBART’s grant application was supported by member for Southern Downs James Lister, Warwick Art Gallery, Chamber of Commerce and accommodation house 31TheRocks and prepared by Stephanie Bau from Jam Copywriting.

“According to Tackling Tough Times Together program manager Deanne Cavalier, from the Granite Belt to Charters Towers, despite the pandemic, local leaders still have ideas about how they can support their communities and just need someone to back their ideas,” says event founder Rosy Chapman.

In a much-anticipated boost to the Southern Downs economy, October 2020 will see artisans, visitors and locals alike come together to celebrate the wealth of creatives in its midst with a trail of art trails. These back-to-back open studio events are expected to surpass the well-known Silo Art Trail.

“We are now partnering with Condamine Country’s inaugural Art and Craft Open Studio Trail event, held over 17 and 18 October 2020. Our trail of trails will provide a fully immersive experience of the rich tapestry of culture, talent, history and artefacts in the Southern Downs.

“In 2020, so many Queenslanders are looking to holiday here this year in support of regional economies. It’s so beautiful up here now and it seems that this will be the year of road trip adventures for many Australians.”

The Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail has just announced a strong artisan line up for the 2020 open studios event. Over thirty artisans will be exhibiting on the trail at 17 different venues, from wineries to art galleries and beautiful small community halls.

“Our artisans are good to go! We have an Indigenous collage artist, a contemporary dot painter and an indigenous arts collective, potters, street art, fibre artisans including that wonderful Mongolian Ger, leadlight artisans, fine art photographers, a candlemaker, watercolourists, a precious metal jeweller, and many more.

This is the second year of the annual arts festival which provides a fully immersive experience of the rich tapestry of culture, talent, history and artefacts in the region. There will be a three-day, COVID-sensitive event opening at 10am on Friday 30 October and closing on Sunday 1 November at 4pm.