Sixty five artists ranging from professionals to community groups exhibited a range of artworks in more than 30 premises around the town.

Businesses have reported increased trade and visitors to the area and many artists sold artworks or received commissions.

Julie White of JJW Designs on West Street said: We had a 170 per cent increase on people passing through our business during the Art Trail and increased sales as a result.

Many people discovered us for the first time, all this is positive for the long term. The Art Trail was a very
positive experience for the town, lots of people voiced the fact that they rarely came to Rochford and were pleasantly surprised at how pretty the town was and how much it had improved. Throughout the week it felt like Rochford had a buzz about it.”

The Rochford Art Trail is a partnership project between Rochford District Council, Essex Adult Community
Learning and Open Arts. It is funded by Virgin Active with support from Shop at my Local.

If you are a business or local artist interested in taking part in next year’s Trail, contact Roxie Curry
Arts Development Officer on 01702 318171 or roxie.curry@rochford.gov.uk

Windmill Exhibitions

Rochford District Council’s Leisure Team organises loads of events each year, such as the Art Trail and the Sports Awards. The team also manages exhibitions at the Rayleigh Windmill.

The Windmill holds a small Accredited Museum, National Trust Local Committee display and an Exhibition floor.

Open to visitors from April to September, each year the team look to fill the exhibition floor with displays about Rayleigh and the surrounding areas that both young people and adults will enjoy.

The exhibition floor isn’t just for artists, any group is welcome to put together a display, for example, last year there was a special exhibition commemorating the centenary of the Girl Guides.

To find out more, contact the Leisure Team on 01702 546 366 or email: leisure@rochford.gov.uk

Children were able to enjoy lots of free activities including swimming, basketball, tennis and circus skills on a day which was organised as part of the nationwide London 2012 Open Weekend Initiative, starting the countdown of two years to go until the London 2012 Olympics.

The fun day also kicked off the Council’s 2010 summer programme. The programme, which is put together in partnership with Virgin Active and Rochford Extended Schools was once again a big success with activities including the Rochford Play Rangers, Cricket, Outer Space Mobile Workshops, Manga Drawing, Basketball and the ever popular Summer Swim Programme.

For more information on future school holiday activities please visit: www.rochford.gov.uk/holidayactivities

Guided walks in Hockley Woods

A second event that formed part of the Open Weekend was a guided walk in Hockley Woods.

Members of Rochford District Council Woodlands Team and the regular volunteer walk leaders led a group of 30 walkers explaining about both the history of the ancient woods and the work that is carried out there on a day-to-day basis.

For details of the weekly health walks that take place in Hullbridge and Hockley Woods please contact the Leisure Team at Rochford District Council on 01702 318121.

An exciting mix of established artists alongside local art groups and emerging talent will be exhibiting in a variety of venues including Barclays, Rochford Archery, the Fresh Fruit Co and the Bee Hive Team Rooms.

The Rochford Art Trail also includes art workshops for children and a 14 metre banner of artwork displayed at Rochford Adult Community Learning.

The banner has been created by artists all over Essex and has been passed between 14 Art Trails this year. The banner makes its final journey from Colchester to Rochford where local artists Tessa Frampton and Hannah Abrams will add to the final artwork before it is finally unrolled for the public to see.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Heritage, the Arts, Culture and Business Councillor Keith Gordon, said: “The Rochford Art Trail is a great opportunity to support local businesses and the local arts sector by visiting the Art Trail this Autumn.

We look forward to welcoming new visitors to the town and celebrating the artistic achievements of artists in the District.”

The Art Trail runs from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 October. For more information and to get a copy of the Rochford Art Trail map, contact Arts Development Officer Roxie Curry on 01702 318171 or visit www.rochford.gov.uk/arttrail

Details of events on the Arts Trail (PDF 103kb).

Other highlights included young people visiting Britton Court to record older people’s memories of the area, artworks on display in High Street shops, a film night, dance and drama workshops for babies and toddlers and a jazz concert at Rayleigh Library.

For the first time, the festival was extended over one week to give local arts groups the opportunity to put on their own events as part of the Festival.

Derek Adams of Adamantine, a group of poets that performed an evening of poetry at the Rayleigh Windmill: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to raise our profile and reach new audiences.

It’s been a great Festival and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”

For one week in October the market town of Rochford transforms into a giant exhibition space as artists display in shops, cafes and public spaces. Follow the trail, meet the artists, take part in workshops and discover a day of free arts activities on Saturday 22 October. 

Ducks at Rochford Reservior by Marie Antoniou

The Big Draw  

People of all ages are invited to take part in The Big Draw. Always Art will be leading activities including shadow puppetry and drawing a huge map of Rochford. 

Tuesday 25 October 10am – 12pm at Rochford Library 

Thursday 27 October 12pm – 2pm at Rochford Library 

The Big Draw workshops are free but booking is essential. Bookings open 12 September by calling 01702 546688. 

Art Trail Map now available to download here (PDF 777kb). 

Keep up to date with news and developments by following the Trail on Twitter @rochford_arts

For more information about the Rochford Art Trail, please contact Roxie Curry (Arts Development Officer) on 01702 318171 or roxie.curry@rochford.gov.uk 

The Rochford Art Trail is arranged in partnership with Rochford District Council, Essex Adult Community Learning and Open Arts. 

Essex Summer of Art website

The day included arts workshops and a gathering that brought together local people to celebrate a community arts and health trail that continues to be on display until 15th November. 

The Art Trail was officially launched by  The Chairman of Rochford District Council, Councillor Tony Humphries, who spoke warmly about the benefits of arts for health and well-being, and the entrepreneurial aspects to the trail in giving opportunities to local artists and businesses to increase their profile and sell their goods.

The Chairman said: “I’m privileged and pleased to be involved in the Art Trail and am looking forward to exploring it.” 

 More than  100 people attended the library, including 50 guests who were present at the official launch. Activities included autumnal pastel drawing and an innovative ‘make your own drawing robot’. 

Venues participating in the trail include Rochford Hospital, Rochford Adult Community Learning College, as well as the council offices, local cafes, greengrocers, medical centre, mental health drop in centre and many local businesses and banks. 

Rochford Art Trail was funded by South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Rochford Local Strategic Partnership as part of the Open Arts project, working in partnership with Rochford District Council, Rochford Adult Learning and Rochford Library.