The now popular Ballarat Regional Arts Trail will run for the fourth successive year on the weekend of the 18^th and 19^th October, albeit with a few new twists and turns in the trail. Some new artists will join the group and with others leaving there will be 12 artists offering 11 ‘open studio’ experiences to the public. The Arts Trail Group, friends and associates from the art-making communities of Ballarat and Creswick, came together in 2011 providing the opportunity for  the general public and art-lovers to visit and view a working art studio whilst providing the artist with an opportunity to enthuse  both young and old with the passion they all experience in the art-making process.

The open studio concept is a means of providing greater access to the arts for the general public, and encourages those who are not regular gallery-goers to engage with this important dimension of community life. The studio visit also allows the artist to sell work at studio prices.

A key feature of the Arts Trail is the diversity of art practice within the group.  Several artists are dedicated painters using the familiar oil paints, water-colours and acrylics in variations within this group, with additional materials forming collage or mixed media pieces.  Another group work with textiles, but again all in vastly different ways, a fascinating study in contrast in the innovative use of textiles, thread, and wool, and techniques such as sewing, quilting and fabric collage. Textile artist Ollie Fraser will show viewers the results of her unique method of using materials from nature to achieve thrilling effects in the fabric dyeing process.

Drawing  is practiced to a high level in the studio of Lyn Cooke in Creswick.  Sculptural work is on display at Creswick in the work of David Barclay who carves basalt stone and ceramist Barry Wymss in his unusual pieces.

The Ballarat Regional Arts Trail will run on the weekend of Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th of October, 2014, with studios being open from 9 am to 5 pm both days. Brochures giving artist details and a trail map are available from the Tourist Information centres in Ballarat and Creswick, and from the Art Gallery of Ballarat.