Wylye Valley Art Trail is from Saturday, May 1 to Sunday, May 9.
The Trail is an inspiring and eclectic festival of visual art and craft in 48 venues in South West Wiltshire. It includes open studios and workplaces, galleries, art group exhibitions, student groups, virtual exhibitions and other fascinating events, including ‘hands on’ activities, demonstrations, workshops and talks.
This year , more than 140 exhibitors range from award-winning artists with international reputations, to those just starting out on their creative journeys. It is a unique opportunity to view a wide range of artistic skills, from painting to print-making, furniture-making, photography and sculpture, to ceramics, as well as contemporary art forms such as digital art, installation, video and art using recycled materials.
All venues follow current Covid guidance: maximum visitor numbers, requiring face coverings, social distancing and providing hand sanitiser.
Nick Andrew, founder and coordinator of the Art Trail said: “I hope you enjoy following the 11th Wylye Valley Art Trail. I can’t believe that it is 20 years since the first event in 2001, when 34 studios, workshops and makeshift galleries threw open their doors, stretching a vibrant trail across this beautiful corner of Wiltshire. Since then it has taken place every two years, growing in size and bringing a wonderfully colourful and varied patchwork of visual creativity across the landscape to the attention of enthusiastic and art hungry visitors.
The first art trail very nearly didn’t happen, though. The early months of 2001 saw the outbreak of the worst foot and mouth epidemic this country had seen, closing off much of the British countryside to visitors. We came so close to cancelling but thankfully, by late spring, many of the restrictions had been lifted and we simply had to ask visitors to follow precautions and keep away from farmland and livestock.
That experience has resonated only too clearly throughout the planning and organising of this year’s event (but amplified greatly by the catastrophic effect that the Covid pandemic has wrought on many people’s lives). We have had to steer a delicate and twisty path between that urgent desire to bring visual art and craft out of lockdown and into the open again, and the important considerations for the safety of visitors and exhibitors alike. And a number of times we have come close to calling a halt. But, having decided to go ahead (albeit in a more limited form), our hope now is that WVAT’21 will be seen as an uplifting glimmer of creative light in the cultural life of this area and, as long as we continue to follow guidelines and take all necessary precautions, something that will bring much enjoyment and stimulation to everyone visiting and taking part.”
Colourful and eye catching Wylye Valley Art Trail brochures are available from April at Tourist Information Centres, Arts Centres, Libraries and many other places.