Who knew it would end up as big as it did, with over 600 questionnaires filled in and 100% positive comments written on them- and i didn't know just how many visitors would do the whole trail - traveling to each venue ! Sharing the Arts across the city between each brilliant venue and organisation works well and only fair to the community we live, esp in times of major hardship and difficulty- so many people have been happy that the city festival and the trail has existed. Goes to show what happens when someone funds hard working artists !
My highlights have been selecting high quality work, from all over, locally, nationally and internationally and then a month later heading out like the ATeam with Jonjo, Fran & Darren in a van to hang it all in 3 venues- was so much fun esp after months and months sat at a computer - next highlight on the list was the relationships that have formed over the course of a year and the Silver Vine Arts Team has now grown and got stronger - huge thank you to Darren O'Brien Francisca Sanchez Ian MagicTeapot Rebecca Vials All are are good people, with the same attitude about community and the arts and been a major part of the project being successful. Also Like to say huge thank you to Artist Volunteers in residence at the Queen of Bradgate- Alison Allen Siobhan Williams and Jonjo Elliott who have also helped over the last couple of months with other major elements to the project with the publicity, creating blogs about there work, sending 75 special invites across the country, cleaning and preparing the spaces, taking deliveries and sorting deliveries - so appreciated ! It has also been brilliant to offer them a studio space and work together on our art projects over the course of two months prier .
thank you to those who have helped steward over the course of the last week Courtney Askey, Andy from the very bizarre, mike and Tony Walker with out you guys we would have been completely, utterly, melted - so, so , so appreciated!
Thankyou to Sally Crossfield and Mat for supporting our project with much needed studio space and much of the public loved the historic view of Leicester on the top floor !
Big thank you to Paul Guyan and all those at LCB Depot who supported the Residency program & two month free studio space- allowing us to select & support artist Leila Galloway with her work. Also thank you to Grays - GRAYS Coffee Shop & Kitchen for bringing the most amazing food to the launch and generally being such lovely, lovely, hard working, creative, good people. Thankyou to the talented musicians & spoken word artists for playing at the launch festival event Melanie Page Sally Hossack Steve Parker Lady Paradox Kirkland Turn Luke Broughton Toby Campion The Kittenettes echolocation The Hardy Band Mountaintop Junkshop jesuscarfish Brassick Bears Ash Mammal Strangler Figs - All artists presented by the brilliant Magic Teapot . Huge thank you to Hazz for supplying the PA and doing the sound throughout the day in a tent, in the blazing heat and Pete for helping with the stage, Darren at the The Musician Pub for being a major support to the day and the lovely Mike Harper for introducing the artists, the whole Trail and the City Festival after each act!
Thankyou to Chris Slowe for helping me prepare for my 'on the mic' announcements and supporting us at LCB with the launch.
Thankyou to Myoptik Rich Wilkes for being an important positive energy throughout and bringing more brilliant Artists together for the closing Summer Art Trail Sound Ceremony- thank you Lee Mullen for suppling PA, Jamie Gee for designing such brilliant flyers, Ben Bayliss for assiting to help clear up, Eric Rosoman for not only giving me an award many years ago (which had a part to play in keeping me in Leicester) but also for supporting the second year of Summer Art Trail, thank you for the amazing main visuals by the incredible David Hughes aka DACCHU and Sean Clark for also his collaboration. thank you to Claire Rachael Owen for helping out on the bar and being a great dancer! Performers HUGE thank you for giving us a great night !!! thank you Paul Asher@TransmissionDJClare 1000000000000 O'clock David Conrad Dhonau Helen Toft@TranmissonDJDorDar @TheAurora @MoAuxilec The Dirty Electronics Ensemble Wiseass Dan Kent @PeataOut Akshay Colour Code Sharmathe amazing Artist Graham Dunning Jake Boz @JammyGee and thanks to all that helped out on the day ! also thanks to Flaming Mo's Pizza and @Kate for organising the 18 pizza delivery- top quality from our favourite pizza place !!!!!!
Thankyou to all brilliant organisations who have been part of the trail who do what they do best throughout the year - Attenborough Arts CentreFeelmorelove Boutique LCB Depot Pheonix Cinema@Leicesterprintworkshop Leicester Arts & Museums Leicester Lo-Fi Photography Two Queens @Queenofbradgate TheWestern Leicester Seed Creativity Crafty Little Sew and so My Workshop Graff Headquarters The Great Central
Thankyou also to photographers and videographers David Soden & David Wilson Clarke for documenting the Trail - massive job since last years Trail.
- Thank you Also to the 78 EXHIBITING ARTISTS WHO APPLIED & WERE SELECTED as part of the open call - LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THE POSITIVE COMMENTS WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR WORK - we are super, really happy that some of you having sold works- as you deserve, we take no commission!
It has been my pleasure to pay photographers, videographers, art venues, local designers and local artists to cordite this event- it could not of happened with out the help of Leicester City Council for funding the arts & this project and to Soft Touch Arts for their belief in us and helping making the project happen.
Thankyou to every who came we look forward to seeing you again next year!
ANYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT WILL GET CREDITED - PLEASE PM ME- SHOULD YOU WISH TO ADD YOUR WEBSITE OR BLOG ON OUR WEBSITE- WE WILL HELP SUPPORT THE ARTS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EVERYONE INVOLVED!
(Should any one wish to donate a little or a lot - please vist the donation page on our website - it will help support artists do what they know about the best - we are not a cop rate company- we at Silver Vine Arts, are an artists collective- we rely on donation to help support the arts in our city. )