User:Sniffy12a/Maldon Art Trail

Started in 2007, Maldon Art Trail week is a chance for local artists to exhibit their work at venues across the town for free. These venues include local shops and businesses. It is also the public's chance to explore this beautiful town and view the art on show.

Maldon Art Trail goes from strength to strength each year, thanks to the wealth of talent in the area combined with sterling support from local businesses and the Town and District councils. Without these people there would be no Art Trail.

Maldon is an inspiring town - with the tidal Blackwater Estuary, the famous Thames Barges, and the surrounding Essex countryside - and it is obvious that our artists draw plenty of inspiration from it. Variety is certainly the name of the game, with paintings, sculpture, photography, textiles and drawings on show.

The website has information each year about who is going to be exhibiting their artwork and where. The Maldon Art Trail brochure, and a map detailing which venue will be hosting which artist, is usually available at the end of August from Maldon Tourist Information Centre on Wenlock Way (Tel: 01621 856503) - or from one of the cafés and shops in town. The same information is also on the Maldon Art Trail website.

Local artists often give talks about their work during the Art Trail week and there are one or two internationally acclaimed artists in the area. These talks are sometimes free, or a donation may be asked for to cover refreshments.

The Art Trail also incorporates the Sculpture Trail, the Children’s Art Workshop and the Children’s Art Competition, the latter being open to young people aged between 0 - 18 years old.

The Sculpture Trail is hosted at the Museum of Power in Langford. This is worth a visit in itself and some delicious refreshments are available in the Steam Pump Tea Room.

The Children's Art Workshop - which has been so successful in previous years - takes place in Maldon Town Hall. There are more artists on hand each year to help young people exercise their imaginations and create something.

The Children and Young Person's Art Competition is held in Maldon Library. Prizes are donated by local businesses.

Maldon Art Trail is run by a committee of volunteers, who want to bring art to everyone, while promoting local artists.

The Maldon Art Trail Committee 2012 consists of:

Christopher Smith - Chair

Neil Rampton & Suzanne Rampton - Secretary

Chris Kirvan - Treasurer

Nicola Hughes - Essex Summer of Arts co-ordinator

Mike Barter - Sculpture Trail

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Maldon Art Trail is held as part of Essex Summer of Art. The Essex Summer of Art is a countywide showcase of art and takes place from May to October. Local artists will be exhibiting their work at art trails and open studios in the county's rural, coastal and urban settings. Taking in painting, photography, ceramics, textile and sculpture, the art trails feature a wide variety of creative talent at both innovative and traditional venues across Essex.

Essex Summer of Art is delivered in partnership with FirstSite, Essex County Council's Arts Development, 2012 Legacy and Tourism Teams, participating District, Borough Councils, Unitary Authority, BBC Essex and Essex's many and varied art trails.

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Links:

Maldon Art Trail: http://www.maldonarttrail.co.uk

Essex Summer of Art: http://www.visitessex.com/discover/cultural/Essex_Summer_of_Art.aspx

Essex Summer of Art - Maldon Art Trail http://www.visitessex.com/discover/cultural/summer-of-art/Maldon_Art_Trail.aspx

Maldon District Council: http://www.maldon.gov.uk/site/