Romford’s first art trail has started and residents are invited to pick up a map and take part in the free trail.
A group of 35 artists are hoping to transform Romford into a creative and cultural hub for the trail, which runs until Friday July 27.
One of the organisers of the event, Denise Hickey from the Brentwood Road Gallery said: “We have had a really nice comment from someone who said that the art trail is our chance to put Romford on the map for something positive.”
As part of the trail, paintings, sculptures and other art work is displayed in 11 venues including Romford Library, Romford Shopping Hall and the Golden Lion Pub in Romford.
Residents will also get the chance to see art work displayed at bus stops and throughout the town.
Jean Cairns one of the artists showcasing her work at the Kilnwood studios in Kilnwood Lane, Havering-atte-Bower said: “The venues are worth discovering, we have over 80 artifacts to see and it’s better and cheaper than fighting your way into London.
“We would love Romford to be more like Chelsea where the Town Hall is filled once a year for their Open Art selected Exhibition, hugely enjoyed by all or Walthamstow for their beautifully presented and publicised Art Trail, rapidly gaining a positive and uplifting reputation for their area.”
The trail has been organised by the Brentwood Road Gallery. a group of artists and a number of businesses in the area.
Denise came up with the idea of the trail in September last year taking inspiration from a similar event in Walthamstow.
Artists then got involved in the project and contacted businesses in the area who were interested in taking part in the trail.
The group are now hoping to make the art trail a regular thing.
Denise said: “There are so many other things happening in Romford and art is not always in the front of people’s minds, but I think that if this became a yearly thing it might be ingrained in people’s heads.
“We are taking the art into the community and the trail is a celebration of the work of local artists.”
For more information about the trail visit http://www.havering.gov.uk/Pages/Romford-Art-Trail-2012.aspx
or search Romford Art Trail on Facebook
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