Connecting art with the public - Art Trail gives 45 reasons to visit

Founder of the new Macedon Ranges Art Trail, Nadine Hartnett, with Woodend glass artist, Ettore Di Pilla. Photo: Chris Fleming

The new Macedon Ranges Art Trail being launched this weekend will connect 45 artists, galleries and artisan businesses with the public.

It promotes the area's rich and diverse artistic community, and gives some of the most creative residents in the Macedon Ranges highly desired and strong exposure to a bigger audience than they have had in the past.

By Easter, a vibrant brochure will be available from the Kyneton and Woodend visitor information centres, and various galleries, eateries and accommodation places. It will feature contact details for the 31 participating artists, including website addresses where available, and listings for 12 galleries and two artisan businesses.

The brochure will be downloadable to the shire's tourism website www.visitmacedonranges.com.au, which is the major online information service for the area. According to this website, the Macedon Ranges shire has more working artists per capita than anywhere else in Victoria.

The Macedon Ranges Art Trail is an independent initiative of Woodend freelance writer, Nadine Hartnett, who received $3000 from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council last year to produce a brochure to promote local artists and galleries.

Over the next few months it is hoped the hard copy brochure will be distributed in Melbourne and regional centres.

All private studios on the Art Trail will be open on an appointment only basis until March 2014. Individual artists will decide when to accept visitors.

A Facebook page has been established to display artwork by the participants, advertise exhibitions and workshops, and generate dialogue among anyone interested in visual arts and craftsmanship.

Sublime seven

SHE: Seven Harp Ensemble will perform at St Ambrose Church in Woodend on Monday.

It's not often Woodend hosts a harp concert - let alone one featuring seven harps. But the Labour Day long weekend will feature an exceptional opportunity to see and hear some of Australia's best - all at once.
The all-women SHE: Seven Harp Ensemble will perform at St Ambrose Church marking the launch of the 2013 Woodend Winter Arts Festival Program which will be available to the public from the concert onwards.
SHE brings together graduates of the Australian National University under the direction of world renowned harpist, Alice Giles and is brought to Woodend with the support of the festival and historic Mt Macedon's Duneira.
And for music students - or students curious about the harp - there will be a very special harp workshop at Duneira with Alice Giles in the morning before the concert which will include a chance to play the harp as well as learn how it works and when it was invented.
Monday's performance will be held from 2.30pm - 3.30pm in the St Ambrose Catholic Church in Templeton Street.
Cost $35 full / $25 concession. Bookings essential - online via www.duneira.com.au or at the door on the day.
Mark the festival in your diary - Queen's Birthday Weekend - June 7-10, 2013.