Take Part

This year the Trail will be running on Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September.

Applications are open to all Bristol artists; whether you’re a prolific potter or new to Bristol’s creative scene, all are warmly welcome. There is no prior assessment of your work. As long as you have a venue sorted, paid the application fee and provided the required information about your work, you can participate in the Arts Trail.

All participating artists must work/complete their practice within a 15 mile radius of Bedminster.

“We were really pleased with the whole event. We packed up on Sunday with beaming smiles on our faces – that says it all.” 2023 Participating Artist

Venues

All artists must ensure they have an agreed venue before applying for their spot.

Applications are per person, not per venue. 

If you’re not able to open up your own house or don’t live in BS3, you can contact any of the Community Venues who are opening up and offering spaces this year. We have provided a list of the venues who have space to host artists. If you’re interested in exhibiting with them, get in touch with them directly to secure a venue and then complete the application form once your venue is confirmed.

Application Fee

There is a £40 fee per artist to take part in the 2024 Arts Trail.

We offer a subsidised fee of £25 for creatives in their first year of practice/business at the time of the Trail (September), those purely raising money for charity, disabled artists, those claiming benefits or for those who will not be selling artwork or a service.

Payments are to be made via bank transfer only.

Your application fee is non-refundable.


Why is there a fee to take part?

Your Application Fee helps to cover:

  • The cost for a local graphic designer to produce the artist brochure
  • The cost of printing thousands of these brochures as well as posters & postcards
  • Promotion of the Arts Trail in local printed publications and online event listings
  • Promotion across social media platforms and our website
  • Administration time to liaise with over 20 venues, over 100 artists and sponsors
  • Finance and banking support
  • Website hosting, editing and maintenance