The Otago Arts Trust has appointed the Cleveland Living Arts Centre to project manage the production of the new Otago Art Roads tear-off maps.

The Trust has spent several months developing and fundraising for this new project, which follows in the footsteps of the award-winning Otago Arts Guide.

The Trust envisages the tear-off maps will be located in galleries, visitor centres, cafes, vineyards and other visitor points around the Otago region.  The maps will point visitors to the location of artist studios.

Trust Chair Tony Eyre believes this is a great way to lead visitors through the Otago region.

"What we're creating here is a pathway or road through the region which leads visitors to our practising artists," he said.

The Trust is thrilled to be working in partnership with the Cleveland Living Arts Centre on this project.

"We felt the Cleveland Living Arts Centre had great networks among artists, a good existing administrative set-up and solid project management experience necessary for this project," Mr Eyre said.

Cleveland Director Kari Morseth was delighted to be able to work with the Otago Arts Trust.

"The new Otago Art Roads maps are in keeping with our own mission of making arts accessible to everyone,"  she said.

The maps will be distributed throughout the region early next year.  Artists will be invited to list on the maps, with a small charge per listing.

Support for the project has come from the Community Trust of Otago, Community Trust of Southland, Clutha, Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Councils, with some other funding applications pending.

"The Trust's intention with the publication of the maps is to promote Otago as an arts and cultural destination.  And we want to help our artists out by leading visitors to their doors," Mr Eyre said.

The Otago Arts Guide is available in good bookstores, galleries, vineyards and arts supplies shops around the region, or can be ordered online at:  www.otagoartsguide.co.nz.

ENDS

For more information, contact Tony Eyre on 03 4775 061 or Lee Harris, on 03 441 0469

By: Kiri