About the Severn Vale Art Trail
Celebrating local artists and their work for 20 years!
The Severn Vale Art Trail, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is set to be the biggest and best one ever, with more than 80 artists and makers across more than 35 venues. Taking place over the Mayday bank holiday weekend (Thursday 30th April to Monday 4th May), the trail has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2006.
In 2006 Barbara Ray was Artistic Director of the Thornbury Arts Festival. “The Festival usually just chose one or possibly two artists or makers to have an exhibition in The Council Chamber of the Town Hall over the period of the Festival,” says Barbara. “I wanted to make a much more inclusive visual side of the Festival and the Open Studios movement was just picking up at that time.”
The first year had just 20 participants and included some high profile artists including painters Jane Lampard and Christine Russell and sculptor John Higgins. They ranged from Olveston in the south to Coaley in the north and all displayed in their own homes/studios.
Today, as well as artists and makers opening up their own homes and studios, many also showcase their work in shared or group venues, such as village halls and churches in the region.
“When we started, the trail was supported by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) and Arts Council England South West,” says Barbara. “SGC employed a Consultant Deborah Harrison who had set up several other Open Studios before. She looked around the county and concluded that because Thornbury has a long-standing Festival with a viable Committee etc, that they would support the Open Studios on our side of the county and not elsewhere.”
And so the trail steadily grew. From 20 artists in 2006, to 31 in 2007, 40 in 2009 and eventually to more than 80 today. The trail has also broadened its appeal, with ceramicists, woodturners and even upholsterers joining the line up.
“I am immensely proud of what the Severn Vale Art Trail has achieved,” says Barbara. “We don’t receive any external funding now and the trail is run entirely by volunteers, who simply believe passionately that local artists need a platform on which to showcase their work.”
Plan a journey of creative discovery as you wander from venue to venue and all venues are free!
As the visual side of Thornbury Arts Festival, the Severn Vale Art Trail was established in 2006 out of a desire to promote the work of local artists and make art accessible to all. The Thornbury Arts Festival is a registered charity and is organised by a team of dedicated and passionate volunteers who make up the main committee, the Eisteddfod and the Art Trail Committees.
The SVAT committee is made up of volunteers: Eryl Daniels, Barbara Ray, Angela Williams, Anne McAllister, Derek North, Lynda Knott, Nadya Webster, Johannes Roux and Karen Schwamm.
For more information about the art trail or if you would like to be added to our artists mailing list please contact: severnvalearttrail@gmail.com
To find out more about Thornbury Arts Festival check out their website: https://thornburyartsfestival.org.uk/
