Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Open Studios event is set to Capitalise on the Winter Tourism Boom
The Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail Open Studios event is set to capitalise on the winter tourism boom experienced across the region, building on the extraordinary publicity generated over the last few months as Queenslanders look to holiday here this year in support of regional economies.
Arts trail founder Rosy Chapman was inspired by the Silo Art Trail, which delivers international media attention to regional Australia, an influx of tourists to the region, and expansion of the trail into a 200-kilometre-long outdoor art gallery.
“Drive-market tourism is delivering relief from back-to back natural disaster events and now the pandemic. The Granite Belt has experienced incredible coverage from major metro newspapers, travel writers and Channel 7 over winter, with accommodation houses booking out and a massive influx of tourists from our weekend drive market.
The Australian recently published a Granite Belt travel feature Queensland’s Rock Stars. It’s thrilling to consider that a cross-platform readership of over two million people is being introduced to our street art, wineries, artisans and Girraween National Park.
We hope that this event will support the Granite Belt in its best spring season yet! Many of our cellar doors are reporting that the majority of visitors are first-time visitors to the Granite Belt. This will be the year of road trip adventures for many Australians!” says Ms Chapman.
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 in funding.
“Last year we had just $26,000 in funding to stage and promote the event. This year, we are working with $57,000.
This has enabled us to actively promote the artisans to the broader community and our weekend drive market through digital marketing campaigns, a new website and media liaison.
We are distributing 10,000 programs across the Western Downs, Toowoomba, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Ipswich. Over 20,000 people have viewed our promotional video, and our online marketing has reached almost 100,000 people so far. Watch this space!”
The Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail has 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.
“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.
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.”
Event founder Rosy Chapman reports that 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.
This year marks the second inauguration of the 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.
Granite Belt Art and Craft Trail
When: Friday 30th October 2020 - Sunday 1st November
Where: Stanthorpe and surrounding Granite Belt villages
Time: Open 10am-4pm and by appointment
Contact: Rosy Chapman - Email: gb.art.trail@gmail.com / Phone: 0417 727 997
Photo credit: Shane Andersen
Images: Artist Roz Wilson, Potter Yve Grey and The Graniteers ukulele group at The Red Bridge, Stanthorpe.
