The Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail will be launched on Thursday 2 October from 5:30pm at the Nellie Hamilton Centre Forecourt, 257 Crawford Street Queanbeyan.
Our launch is threefold, featuring recently installed First Nations Art Projections, the official opening of the new LinQ Gallery, and music by Jerikye Williams. Join us in celebration with the festivities and complimentary refreshments.
The Arts Trail will then be in full swing over three weekends in October, showcasing beautiful ceramics, glassworks, paintings, textiles, jewellery, performances and much more. It all begins in Braidwood October 4-5 and, for the first time, in Captains Flat on October 4. Bungendore and Queanbeyan follow on subsequent weekends. With over 40 venues participating in this year's Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail, visitors will be spoilt for choice by our region's creatives and their artistic offerings.
When you join us in Braidwood on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October, you have the choice of twelve different venues around the township including galleries, studios and entertainment hot spots. For the first time, historic Bedervale Farm joins the Arts Trail, hosting the Queanbeyan and Region Plein-air artist group who will create works onsite of the beautiful gardens, capturing rural vistas and the historic homestead. Artworks by the group will be for sale on the deep colonial verandas and there will be opportunities for small group tours of the homesteads National Trust Collection. Other firsts for the Arts Trail include Michael Simics performance - In the belly of the Whale, at the Old Sunday School Hall, and a high energy music performance by Claudio Rabe at Smokey Horse. Other pop-up street performances from groups such as The Gypsy Jazz Project, will add a musical flavour to the trail from the verandas of cafés along Braidwood's main street. On Friday evening 3rd of October, BRAG - Braidwood Regional Arts Group's Paper Trail exhibition market launches from 6-8pm, all are welcome.
Picking up the Trail in Bungendore on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October, you can enjoy the Top Small Tourism Town in the nation, a title which Bungendore was recently awarded. Enjoy 9 different arts and crafts venues showcasing the latest regional creative endeavours, including 2 new offerings in town from The Artist Shed Nostalgia and the Bungendore Quilters, who will open their doors to the public. An old favourite, the Woodworks Gallery, re-imagines itself under new ownership as an Artisan Market, offering more than the usual wooden wares. Bungendore has a host of food and beverage options to top out your day.
We round out the Arts Trail in Queanbeyan and surrounds on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October, with more than 20 different galleries, pop-ups, performances and artist studios to explore. In 2025, the Arts Trail coincides with the Diwali Lantern Festival being held at the Queanbeyan Showground, hosting a multifaceted celebration of culture. This year marks the final opportunity to visit Queanbeyan's long-standing Sculpture Studio, especially honouring co-founder Berendina de Ruiter who passed away in March this year. You can view her and Wojciech Pietranik's immense contribution as both artists and mentors of sculpture. Adding to the creative experiences, the Queanbeyan Arts Society is partnering with Cartel Taqueria Restaurant to combine art, food, music and cocktails outdoors by the Queanbeyan River. Just up the hill, Rusten House Art Centre will host 4 artists' exhibitions, on Saturday Echo Theatre will conduct open air rehearsals of A Midsummers Night Dream in the Rusten House garden. If you want a hands-on experience, get yourself to The Hive in the heart of Queanbeyan, where you are invited to participate in an onsite mural painting project.
With the Arts Trail blossoming in every direction, the possibilities are endless. Whether you're drawn to paint, sculpture, performance, or something entirely unexpected, there's a moment of inspiration waiting for you. Explore the full program on our website, and pick up a brochure around town to map out your own creative adventure and plan your perfect trail.
Full list of participants below, and head to treasuretrail.com.au/arts to learn more.
