Belper Arts Trail Set for 5th Anniversary

The Belper Arts Trail will be celebrating its 5^th anniversary this year.

Last year it was estimated that over 3,000 people visited the Trail, making it one of the most popular Trails in the Midlands. The aim is to make it a great family day out – or two if you can’t manage it all in one day!

This year we will have over 130 artists in 49 venues. There are many artists returning for the fifth time and also plenty of newcomers as the appeal of the trail broadens. The Trail, which takes place this year on Sunday, May 6 and Bank Holiday Monday, May 7 covers the town centre and it’s surrounds.

The team has been conscious for a while that some venues later on in the trail do not get visited very early, so we have broken with tradition and made a change this year – so please bear with us!  There will now be two trails in one – an Upper Trail (beginning at the traditional point of the Market Place) and a Lower Trail which will begin at Strutts Centre and go along Chapel Street, Bridge Street to The North Mill and back again taking in the bottom of King Street.

As usual, the trail will be backed up with a program of music. There will be a main stage in The Memorial Gardens but, additionally this year, we have a music trail within the arts trail as there will be 10 venues with live music along the trail – some in artists’ venues and some nearby. Full details of musicians and venues involved are in the Belper Arts Trail brochure. Also in The Memorial Gardens there will be the usual selection of food and drink, face painting and children’s entertainments by Amber Valley Amusements.

There is plenty going on in the streets too. For the first time we have a crafters demonstration area in the Market Place courtesy of Richard Bett and Co:Creators. Here you will be able to see the intricate work of crafters displayed on screens in the marquee.  There are plenty of other demonstrations throughout the trail – again just look out for these in the brochure. Up at Fleet Arts there is a variety of things taking place and you can also sample a fabulous two-course lunch created by Pulp Friction CIC for a small charge

We welcome Strutts Centre to this year’s trail where we will be housing a large number of artists in the hall, to be accompanied by acoustic music, plus Strutts will be operating their café with their legendary bacon sandwiches! For those starting on the Lower Trail, there is parking at Babington Hospital around the Belper Clinic area.

Of course, Captain Dan returns…but this time the format is different. There is no treasure hunt!! Booo, I hear you cry.  But wait, we are grateful to Amanda at The Ritz Cinema for letting the Captain loose in there. Yes… The Ritz Cinema will be the venue for a special Captain Dan variety show. Look  for more information in the brochure and on our website: there will be three shows on each of the two days.

Additionally, Belper Historical Society are hosting a one day exhibition in the Masonic Hall on Campbell Street and Adrian Farmer will be doing an Arts and Heritage Walk on Bank Holiday Monday.

Arts Trail Guides will again contain a map identifying venues and artists, as well as times of events during the two days of the trail. As before, entry to the Trail will be by purchasing a trail badge and you will also receive a brochure.  The badge and brochure will enable you to enter every venue at a cost of £3 per person – we feel that this represents extraordinary value.

Belper Arts Trail was created to promote the growth of local artists, engage with the community and enhance Belper’s reputation as a beautiful and inspiring place to visit. Now in it’s fifth year, the Arts Trail is attracting artists from across the country whilst still keeping local artists at the forefront.

Paintings, sculpture, photography, glass and jewellery will all feature in the trail with prices to suit all pockets. You can chat to artists and see demonstrations. What a brilliant way to spend your weekend.

 

The brochures are now available at Time and Again on King Street.  During the two days of the trail they can be bought on the Market Place, in The Memorial Gardens, Gatehouse Antiques on Chapel Street, Strutts Centre, Fleet Arts and Belper North Mill.

Belper Arts Trail

Dates : 6th and 7th May 2018

Times : 10.30am to 4.30pm

Trail Guide and Badge –  from the Market Place, Memorial Gardens, Gatehouse Antiques, Strutts Centre, Fleet Arts  and Belper North Mill on the day

Free Car Parks : Coppice (off the Market Place), Babington Hospital

Pay & Display Car Parks : Field Lane, Derwent Street (top), Strutt Street, Green Lane, Chesterfield Road, Bridge Street

For more information please go to www.belperarts.org