Essex Summer of Art

The Basildon Art Trail is very proud to be affiliated with the Essex Summer of Art festival.

This year Essex is celebrating its fourth Summer of Art festival, which will see local artists exhibiting their work on art trails and open studios in the county's rural, coastal and urban settings, showcasing the county's artistic talent. Essex Summer of Art 2012 is the biggest yet and please to announce that it is representing trails/fringe events/open studios by every borough  across the county celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games through art.
Taking place from May to October 2012 Summer of Art encourages people to visit the Essex art trails and explore the landscapes that have inspired generations of artists.
Essex Summer of Art has been brought to you by firstsite in partnership with Essex County Council's Arts Development, 2012 Legacy and Tourism Teams, participating District, Borough Councils, Unitary Authority, BBC Essex and Essex's many and varied art trails.

Pick up your brochure today form various venues around Essex including libraries, Basildon BEA gallery and Barleylands Farm

Essex is proud to have a 2012 Olympic Games venue at Hadleigh Farm in Castle Point, which will host the Mountain Bike events. However, the legacy of the 2012 Games in Essex will not just be felt in sport. In the build up to 2012, the Essex Summer of Art will form part of Essex's innovative contribution to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, a four year programme combining cultural activities and education with sport to showcase the UK to the rest of the world through the London Games.
List of the 2012 Trails:

• Art on the Railings - Southend: 1st weekend of every month from May to September
• Braintree Art Trail: 12 & 13 May and throughout June
• Westcliff Art Trail: 12 -19 May
• Gatehouse - Harlow: 19 & 20 May
• Gosfield Jubilee & Olympic Scarecrow Trail: 16 & 17 June
• Leigh Art Trail: 16 - 23 June
• Brentwood Art Trail: 18 - 30 June
• Burnham Art Trail: 23 June - 1 July
• Thurrock Art Trail: 2 - 15 July
• Parndon Mill Open - Harlow: 21 & 22 July; 14 &15; 21 & 22 July
• Essex Craft & Design Show - Hyde Hall: 28 & 29 July
• Art Trail Barleylands - Billericay: 3 August - 3 September
• Billericay Art Trail: 30 August - 9 September
• Jaywick Coastal Open: September - October
• Colchester and Tendring Open Studios: every weekend during September from 8 & 9 September
• ‘Works Like a Charm' - Epping Forest: 16 September
• Essex Craft & Design Show - Cressing Temple: 29 & 30 September
• Maldon Art Trail: 29 September - 6 October
• Basildon Art Trail: 5 - 15 October
• Hadleigh Art Trail: 6 - 13 October
• Rochford Art Trail: 27 October- 3 November

Why not have a look on the Essex Summer of Art Website and view information on the Basildon Art Trail as well as finding out more about then various other cultural events and Art Trails in the borough http://www.visitessex.com/discover/cultural/summer-of-art/basildon-art-trail.aspx