Harleston & Waveney Art
Harleston Waveney Art Trail Carolyn Moulton Shore Lines. Credit Carolyn Moulton.

Art collective refocus efforts on two new projects following cancellation of their popular Spring art trail

A popular art trail is the latest arts event in the region to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisers of the Harleston & Waveney Art Trail, based in the picturesque Waveney Valley on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, have made the decision to cancel their highlight event.

The trail, which would ordinarily see artists and makers opening their studios to the public throughout and in between Harleston and Waveney, was due to take place in May.

Chairman of Harleston & Waveney Art Trail, Malcolm Cudmore, said: “We really regret having no choice but to cancel this year’s Harleston and Waveney Art Trail in May.

“These are unprecedented circumstances, and we know we must do our bit to limit the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the region.

“After 15 years of continuous annual Art Trails in our special part of the Waveney Valley, it will be strange to not welcome the public to our studios this year. In a region famed for its artists, we are proud of the particular identity we have developed for varied and high quality artwork and we’ll miss our regular visitors.

“Many of our members are freelance and rely on sales of their work and tuition. Although we’ll all feel the pinch, there will be ample opportunity to create new work and we will be back – bright, healthy and raring to go – in 2021.”

Looking to the future, the group are refocusing their efforts on two new projects.

Harleston & Waveney Art
Harleston Waveney Art Trail work by Ingrid Duffy. Credit Ingrid Duffy

In October the group plan to host an exhibition at St Margaret’s Church on St Benedict’s Street in Norwich following the success of their show there in 2019.

Mr Cudmore said: “Our show there last year was very well received with higher than average visitor numbers. It was great to see a serious display from each artist – all together in one large space. We’re returning there from Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th October 2020.”

Secondly, the organisation is planning a new book which will focus on the relationship between where and how the artists work – it will include images of the artists, their studios, current and past work and include interviews with each featured member.

Mr Cudmore said: “At this time, we are still planning to go ahead with our large group show in Norwich in October and the whole group is focusing its efforts on a new book, featuring our work and studios to be published later in the year.”

For more information or to contact any of the trail artists please visit www.hwat.org.uk