South Coast Arts Trail 2025
Frequently asked questions
For Visitors
What is the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail is an initiative of the South Coast Business and Promotions Association, a registered Incorporated Society, which aims to support our local community to thrive. Now in its fourth year, the South Coast Arts Trail is an opportunity to celebrate our creative community and support our local businesses.
Over two days, participating artists open their studios or exhibit in public venues to showcase or sell work, make connections and celebrate the range of creative pursuits that are often hidden behind doors, gates and garden walls. The South Coast Arts Trail is a free event.
The South Coast Arts Trail is walkable for most people, good for cyclists, public transport accessible for most studios and includes studios by well known and emerging artists in genres from painting to ceramics and sculpture.
Where is the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail includes Owhiro Bay (to Parawhero Rocks and Carlucci Land), Island Bay (to Berhampore in the North) and Houghton Valley (including Southgate).
When is the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Aerts Trail 2025 will take place on Saturday 13 September to Sunday 14 September from 10am-4pm daily.
How can I find out more information about the South Coast Arts Trail?
You can find us here on our website.
There will also be South Coast Arts Trail booklets available to find your way around the trail.
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Where do I start the South Coast Arts Trail?
Pick up one of our booklets or visit the map of venues online and map your own route - this will be available a few weeks before the arts trail. There is a regular bus service from the the CBD covering Island Bay, Owhiro Bay and Southgate (#1, #32x or 29). Maybe you’d like to start with a browse at the local Island Bay shops, or at one of the several fabulous urban cafes, or start at Parawhero Gallery at Red Rocks, and work your way east. There is parking on some urban streets and coastal routes, but please be aware of time limits in some parking areas, and be careful not to park over driveways or access areas.
How do I get around the South Coast Arts Trail?
Most venues are walkable and easy for biking. We encourage you to wander at your own pace, enjoy the fresh air, the slow pace, and the chance to meet others.
I notice some South Coast Arts Trail artist studios are in private homes. Am I allowed to enter?
Participating venues will display a South Coast Arts Trail flag so you know you are in the right place.
I’m at a listed South Coast Arts Trail venue but it looks closed?
Venues have been asked to be open between 10am and 4pm daily, however its best to check our website for any changes.
How do I buy artwork on the South Coast Arts Trail?
Some venues will have eftpos machines, but for many artists this will be a matter to negotiate, using bank transfers or whatever else is worked out between vendor and buyer. While artists are encouraged to have their work available to purchase, not all work may be for sale.
I would like to participate in future South Coast Arts Trail event. How do I find out more about it?
You can contact us through our website through the 'contact us' page here.
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How can I support the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail remains a free event, relying on the generous support of our sponsors and donors, and organised voluntarily by locals who call the South Coast home, and who are sharing their expertise to make the South Coast Arts Trail a success. Our sponsorship programme offers an opportunity for anyone to support the South Coast Arts Trail, helping ensure that this event continues to thrive year after year.
I would like to host an exhibit. How do I find out about hosting an exhibition?
We are always looking for supporters of the South Coast Arts Trail . Please contact us here.
I’m a local South Coast business – how do I become part of the South Coast Arts trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail remains a free event, relying on the generous support of our sponsors and donors, and organised voluntarily by locals who call the south coast home, and who are sharing their expertise to make the South Coast Arts Trail a success. Our sponsorship programme offers an opportunity for anyone to support the South Coast Arts Trail, helping ensure that this event continues to thrive year after year.
Feel free to contact us here!
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For Artists
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How can I participate in the South Coast Arts Trail?
Registrations have closed for the 2025 South Coast Arts Trail. We will be asking for registrations for the 2026 South Coast Arts Trail in early 2026.
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When do I need to be available for the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail 2025 takes place over the weekend of 13 -14 September 2025. If you have your own studio this needs to be open to the public from 10am-4pm each day.
Public venues with registered artist exhibits will also be open during this timeframe, allowing time on Friday and Sunday evenings for exhibitors to hang and pack down/collect their work.
Exhibiting artists in public venues are asked to share a hosting roster, where possible, during opening times.
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How does the South Coast Arts Trail support arts trail participants?
The South Coast Arts Trail will arrange venues for anyone needing a space to show their work and we will assist, where possible, with any artist-led initiatives that support this event. The South Coast Arts Trail will promote this event on our website and social media, a printed South Coast Arts Trail booklet, billboards, banners, flags and other marketing material.
We will seek funding and sponsorship support to ensure this event is sustainable, so that it happens every year.
Can I sell my work at the South Coast Arts Trail?
Yes, you can sell your work during the South Coast Arts Trail. Some venues may offer eftpos, otherwise artists are responsible for making their own arrangements for payment.
Does the South Coast Arts Trail take a commission on works sold during the event?
No, the South Coast Arts Trail do not take a commission on works sold, however, some public venues such as church halls may appreciate a koha.
My artwork is not suitable for children. Can I still be part of the South Coast Arts Trail?
The South Coast Arts Trail is a community event. Our aim is to ensure this is an event that all can participate in, including children so please choose the work you wish to exhibit accordingly.
How do I promote my South Coast Arts Trail event?
Please share with your friends and whanau, use our marketing material that will be available to you when you register and share on your social media or through any other channels you might have, for example your work intranet or noticeboards, if permitted.
Do I need to use South Coast Arts Trail branding on my promotion?
It would help enormously to promote the event using our branding, as by bringing people to the South Coast Arts Trail we also promote our local businesses and support the sense of community that is fundamental to a healthy and thriving suburb.
The South Coast Arts Trail team will send a simple digital branding pack to registered artists, several weeks out from the arts trail, to use for your social media and promotion.
I would like to exhibit my works at a public venue. How will I be allocated a venue?
Artists that have registered to exhibit at a public venue, will be allocated a venue space most suitable for their work at the discretion of the South Coast Arts Trail team.
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How are you going to advertise the South Coast Arts Trail?
We have expanded our marketing for the fourth edition of the South Coast Arts Trail 2025. This includes a new website. where each registered artist will be promoted with a dedicated space including a small bio, image and a link to your social media. We will also promote using social media including: ​
There will be South Coast Arts Trail booklets available for visitors to find their way around the arts trail.​
We will also communicate with local arts journalists and including community media.
There will be a dedicated featured space for each registered artist in our printed booklet. This will include a bio, image and your social media. We are printing booklets with a map so that visitors can find your exhibition or studio. Each registered artist will receive booklets to share with friends and whanau and visitors.
There will be billboards and posters promotig the South Coast Arts Trail.
South Coast Arts Traill letterbox flags will be available for individual studios and participating venues.
Please explain the Health and Safety requirements of opening my studio or home to the public for the South Coast Arts Trail?
As the South Coast Arts Trail team are not able to be on site at every venue, or responsible for private homes or venues, we are following the guidelines of the NZ Health and Safety at Work Act (2015). This states that art studio owners/operators have a duty to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of visitors. This includes identifying and managing risks such as slips, trips and falls, and exposure to any hazardous materials.
Public venues are also required to adhere to these guidelines. The general idea is to take all reasonable efforts to make sure visitors to your home are safe and secure, and made aware of any hazards that could cause harm.