Southport Arts Trail 4th - 25th June 2022

Southport Arts Trail

By Martin Dawber

Unbelievably, it’s now 13 years since Southport Contemporary Arts was conceived and unveiled for the first time in 2009 its network of independent artists living and working in Southport and surrounding areas, from its newly acquired base at the ArtHouse in Eastbank Street.

4th - 25th June 2022

Continuously applauded for its well established calendar of wide-ranging exhibitions and public events in support local artists, designers and makers, 2022 see’s the welcome return of SCA’s annual Arts Trail & Open Studios event that has refreshingly showcased the wideranging cultural activities within the region since 2010.

Each year the SCA team have successfully maintained this unique free public Arts Event in celebration of a esteemed creative community that continues to make such a valuable contribution to the cultural life in Southport.

Although the Arts Trail has grown over the years to acquire its own personality, its aim to include the active working spaces of individual artists, as well as lots of interactive activities that the public can get involved with, remains the same as in 2009.

Bringing together like-minded individuals, breaking down barriers, sharing skills and building connections that might not have occurred otherwise, drives the focus for SCA in 2022.

Whether a hobbyist or established craftsperson, young or old, inclusivity is key to SCA’s rationale to nurture creative nature.

This year’s Arts Trail will offer visitors the opportunity to see a diverse collective of creativity, ranging from etching to automania in the artists’ own intimate working environment; have hands on experience of a variety of visual arts and contemporary crafts through visiting workshops ranging from Raku ceramics to weaving, and also enjoy a wide variety of local artists’ work in a number of different exhibition venues around the town.

By working with other creative organisation in the town, the Arts Trail offers a truly diverse cultural range providing something for every age group and creative interest.

Southport College will be hosting an exhibition from students across its creative courses including games design and photography plus providing drop-in classes introducing screenprinting and drypoint printmaking.

Southport Little Theatre has VIP tours of its Art Deco home off Hoghton Street and there will be ‘en plein air’ activities for the more adventurous near the Dunes at Ainsdale.

On Saturday the 18th June there will be a fantastic day of relaxed creativity for all the family at a Family Picnic Day in the Mermaid Gardens in Lord Street including celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by making sparkly crowns. No invitation necessary from The Palace but don’t forget your picnic rug and sandwiches.

Not to be outdone, Southport Market will be hosting its own personal photo and collage sessions celebrating the Platinum Jubilee as well as special workshops including knitting on giant needles, peg loom weaving and block printing greeting cards.

For more details and information about joining this year’s exciting ArtsTrail programme, please download the information PDF @ the SCA website (www.sca-network. co.uk) or follow activities on Instagram @ southportartstrail.