“Drawing on Light”, Exhibition at Mingara Gallery May 2011 by Peter Walker

Are you looking for an arts or cultural experience this holiday but don’t know where to start?

During the holiday season there are a host of choices such as exhibitions, markets, festivals, workshops, galleries or something historical.

Bass Coast Shire Council Arts Officer, Josephine Kent , said the updated 2012 ARTS brochure is now available. “The Arts Around The Shire (ARTS) brochure is a 34 page guide to accessing the arts in all its forms, all year round in Bass Coast.

“The guide is available in hard copy or on Council’s website.  This year’s brochure includes a map to encourage art lovers to make a tour of several places. Using the brochure, you can plan a trip visiting galleries, museums or studios, and maybe even catch an artist at work,” said Ms Kent.

This year the ARTS brochure also highlights the winning painting from the 2011 Acquisitive Art Prize. It provides information about how to be involved in Council’s Art Acquisition program in 2012, which has a major prize of $5000.

“To be in the running for this prize in 2012, you need to enter one of four, registered local art shows,” explained Ms Kent.

“There is information in the ARTS brochure about how to enter these shows. At each of the four registered art shows, judges select an artist to be a finalist in the Acquisitive Art Prize.

“There is also a Comments Form, so that we can understand more about what our users would like featured in the brochure year to year,” said Ms Kent.

The ARTS Brochure is available on Council’s website at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au or at any of Council’s Customer Service and Visitor Information Centres, or at participating businesses.