Latest News

An exciting new art event, which show-cases artists all along the Otago Central Rail Trail, opened on Waitangi weekend.  Cafes, hotels, studios and galleries between Clyde and Middlemarch are all  featuring mini solo art exhibitions by our artists.  Thirty-nine artists from around the region have signed up to be part of Art on the Rail Trail which runs until after Easter.  So there's plenty of time left to enjoy it.  All of us at the Central Otago District Arts Trust have been working with the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust on this project which is ‘a first’ of what we hope will be an annual event.

I'm Maxine Williams, the Arts Coordinator for our region and it is heartening to see the belief and confidence our artists have in our ability to pull off this event. We’ve done the hard work and now it’s over to visitors and locals to take the opportunity to see some fantastic art work while biking the Rail Trail.

The poster and brochures have been distributed around i-SITEs and key locations for people to pick up. I have setup a facebook page where 'Art on the Trail' is featured so people can read more about the artists exhibiting.  They can see regular photos of the artists and the Rail Trail to 'like', share or make comments. It is fantastic to be able to meet the venue owners and include them on the facebook promotion too. 

 Working closely with tour operators, various bike hire businesses, accommodation providers, hotels and cafes, has been crucial to the success of this new venture. Nearly all of them have been really positive and enthusiastic about this project. We especially commend Hayes Engineering in Oturehua for allowing a group of artists to join their open day on Sunday 1 March.  They will be setting up their easels and tables and showing their art to the lucky public. What a wonderful day out that will be; taking a tour of the amazing old steam powered workshop then wandering around talking to an interesting bunch of creative folk.  Visitors will  no doubt come away from there full of inspiration!

We hope that anyone planning to come to Central will pick up or download an Art on the Rail Trail guide, along with an Arts Trail brochure - combine the two and have a fabulous time in our beautiful region.