You can download the map here or pick it up from participating venues.

Artists include:

Marie Antonoiu, Sharon Stone, Rick Williams, Rick Williams, Kitty Guthrie Oakley, Philip Blower, Southend High School for Boys, Daphne McSean, Sue Glassock, Kitty Guthrie Oakley, Malcolm Keogh, Malcolm Perry, Ann Robson, Debbie Hadley, Ann Robson, Brenda Hopkins, Nicola Upton, Sharon King, Mara Chrystie, Danielle White, Art by Blind Artists, Joanne Andrew, Estelle Westlake, Marie McGarvey, Kevin Lorghran, Emma Mower, Ian Treherne, Natasha Kamburova, Summercare Daycare Artists, Cathy Cant, Philip Blower, Trevor Bell, Bronwyn Oldham, Steve Whittle, Michael Kinsella, Emma Mower, Christine Robinson and others.

Venues:

1 The Westcliff Hotel
2 The Beecroft Art Gallery
3 Studio eleven
4 Cliffs’ Pavilion
5 Dolly’s Tea Room & Bistro
6 Display Store
7 Classic Cap Co
8 Westcliff Fuji
9 Empire Cakes
10 Garri Bailey
11 JJ Sweets
12 Eliza
13 Margaret Raymond Florist
14 Casa Bonita
15 Westcliff Travel Service
16 Southend Blind Welfare Organisation
17 Halo
18 Aaron Lyons
19 Forever Flowers
20 Clouseaus
21 Havens
22 Summercare Ceylon Rd
23 Bathstore
24 Revivos Cafe
25 Stellisons
26 Athena
27 Open House, 240 Hamlet Ct Rd
28 Classic Carpets
29 Danceland at Dalby’s
30 Glass studio
31 Belvoir Estate Agents
32 Avenue Baptist Church
33 Westcliff Library

For more information about Westcliff Art Trail and how to participate next year, see their website.

Sparks will Fly is one of the biggest shows of this kind ever staged in the area.

As the culmination of two years of development, and linked to the London Olympic Torch Relay’s visit to the county, we are offering 10 Essex Artists (including those who have either lived or trained in the county) the chance to become part of the Walk The Plank team and experience from start to finish, the preparations and machinations of putting on a major outdoor show. We will provide onsite training and workshops from key Artists and production crew on many aspects of the art forms involved, as well as on site practical experience leading up to and including involvement in the show itself.

The whole team will be camping, eating, living and working together on site for the entire period from the first van doors opening to the last one closing and leaving site. This way, the whole week becomes part of the experience and people unfamiliar with working on large scale outdoor projects will see the processes involved from start to finish. The bulk of the finale show itself is already designed, built and structured, but we are hoping that there will be a large part to be played by the Training Camp Artists in the final presentation – whether this is utilising skills you learn along the way or ones you bring along with you. There will be opportunities to learn making skills and be involved in the large scale puppetry within the show.

To apply – email Lindsey.strange@essex.gov.uk with your application (download Artist Training Application Form 2012) by Mon 23 April.

See Spark Will Fly website for more information.

Follow the hunt, solve the clues and claim your prize.

Cryptic photographich clues help visitors find there way around the trail. Discover the hidden word and claim the eggy prize!

Once you have recovered from the trail there is a chance to make and decorate your very own mini Easter baskets, a great gift. Easter themed finger puppet to colour in as well as lots more colouring for all ages.

Free Entry.

Activities £2.50

Last Admission 3.00pm

For more information, see www.southendmuseums.co.uk
Southchurch Hall / Southchurch Hall Gardens

Studio 3

They are organising a street party with art, live and recorded music and poetry, starting around 11am and running until the evening – depending on the weather.

You will be also able to see this month’s featured artists, and new work by Studio 3 resident artists and local artists, including Simon Feather, Lester Mills, Stuart Devoil, Kirsty McHattie, Alan Griffiths, Karen Christensen, Sharon Stone, Darren Jones and Jesse Diss.

Kirsty McHattie from Studio 3 said that during the last year, they’ve ‘learned a lot, sold some great art, met new friends and established ourselves as a hub for local artists to hang out, exchange ideas and sell their work’. Running Leigh Art Trail from their shop has also been keeping them pretty busy.

‘The first year in a new venture (especially in the current economic climate) is never easy, but we’ve made it this far and have no plans for stopping,’ Kirsty added.

The celebration will include music contributions from: Darren Jones, Jesse Diss, Natalia Farran & Dave Crix, Alex McHattie and even “Mr Three Flying Ducks” Daryl Easlea is going to do a couple of numbers !

Poetry by Kirsty McHattie, James Garrat, Cherry Scott and even possibly (of last year’s folk festival fame) John Bently of Bones and the Aft.

They are offering a ‘FREE smile for the first 400 visitors’.

Studio 3 / 85 Broadway West, Leigh on Sea.

Marie Antoniou who organises the event, says Art on the Railings has been growing and she expects more people and artists take part this year.

Art of the Railings is great for families too as free children’s art workshops are organised on the first weekend of every month.

A Southend Council member, Ric Morgan, is one of the artists taking part in this week’s edition: ’We have such a wealth of talent in the Southend area I hope my taking part in the event will encourage even more local artists to offer high quality but affordable items for sale in this most beautiful venue.’

The dates for 2012 are:
Saturday 7th and Monday 9th April
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September

Artists are invited to exhibit and sell their works along the railings of Pier Hill, directly opposite the Royals shopping centre and Park Inn Palace Hotel, Southend-on-sea. If you would like to take part, contact Marie 07951762414 email theartspot@hotmail.co.uk

You will find stalls selling the best of 20th century design, clothing, vintage, retro and kitsch items. There will be a café selling homemade cakes and snacks.

To add to the atmosphere, they will be playing music from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

+ A Vintage Life will be showing how to dance 1940s East Coast Swing style – free to join in.

- Jewellery
- Fashion
- textiles
- Homeware
- kitchenalia
- Arts
- crafts
- Books and music
- Curiosities
- collectables
- Furniture and effects

Admission £3 (OAPs and Students £1.50)
Runnymede Hall, A13, Kiln Road, Benfleet Essex. SS7 1TF
Info: 07519 276507

>>>>STOP PRESS<<<<

https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Vintage-Life/189558031070357?sk=info

They are set up to promote the interaction with the collection of the Palace Theatre Club’s archive of old photos, posters and programmes.

Each activity is free and everyone is welcome.

The events will take place as follows:
· Wednesday 4th April – Southend Central Library 11am – 3pm
· Friday 8th June – Westcliff Library 11am – 3pm
· Friday 3rd August – Southend Central Library 11am – 3pm

The events will be fun for all the family and include arts and crafts, word searches and quizzes all
based around the much-loved local theatre. There will also be opportunities to view some of the Palace
Theatre’s vast archive of posters, programmes and photos which have been collected throughout its
100-year history.

Belfairs School is also marking the centenary by leading a schools project that will bring 10 schools
together to create a film about the Palace.

For further information, contact Emily Malcolm, Community & Education Manager for Southend Theatres on 01702 390472 or emilym@southendtheatres.org.uk.

This year, the trail will takes place between Sat 27 October and Sat 3 November 2012.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 26 April.

Download the application for individuals here: Rochford Art Trail 2012 Submission form.

The Rochford Art Trail, now in its 4th year, showcases the breadth of visual arts from across the Rochford District and has a strong participatory programme of arts workshops for young people, Big Draw events and a launch day of events and activities in and around Rochford town square. New for 2012 is a Mini Art Trail for children and families.

The Rochford Art Trail is a partnership project between Rochford District Council, Essex Adult Community Learning and Open Arts. It is sponsored by Virgin Active.

For more information, see: Roxie Curry (Arts Development Officer) on 01702 318171 or roxie.curry@rochford.gov.uk or Rochford Art Trail website.

Village Green is a unique festival of ideas, arts and culture. The 2010 event saw in excess of 28,000 visitors to a packed day of fun, intrigue, talent and participation in the park.

MARKETPLACE
Be part of 2012’s inspiring event: showcase your work amongst the finest creative talent, and apply for a stall in the Marketplace!
Download the application here and send it to Metal by 27 April 2012.

The stall sizes are: 7ft x 3ft
Fee: £30+VAT
You will need to have your own insurance.

For more information, contact Camilla on camilla AT metalculture.com or T: 01702 470 700

Art on the Railings is a free open air art exhibition, featuring an eclectic mix of arts, crafts and photography every first weekend of the month from April to September 2012 10am till 4pm.

Come and meet the artists, watch them demonstrating their skills or purchase an original piece of artwork. As well as local artists Art on the Railings has continued to attract artists from further afield proving Southend a popular place to pitch up and exhibit their work with inspiring views overlooking the world’s longest Pier.

Free Children’s Art workshops will also be held on the Saturday of the event inviting the public to take part and create some of their own art pieces to take home. Workshops are themed to tie in with other events going on around the town.

Artists are invited to exhibit and sell their works along the railings of Pier Hill, directly opposite the Royals shopping centre and Park Inn Palace Hotel, Southend-on-sea.  If you would like to take part. Contact Marie 07951762414 email theartspot@hotmail.co.uk

DATES:
Art on the Railings launches Easter weekend Saturday 7th and Monday 9th April 2012 (No event Easter Sunday)
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May 2012
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June 2012
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July 2012
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August 2012
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 2012 (Last one of the year)

For more information, see Art on the Railings website.