The Shire of Augusta Margaret River and Creative Corner are excited to announce the launch of Margaret River Art Trails – a new way to experience street art in Margaret River, Cowaramup and Prevelly, with Augusta soon to follow.

Featuring almost 60 pieces of art including murals, sculptures, statues and street art from over 40 local and national artists, the platform celebrates the region’s growing reputation as a hub for the arts and our unique sense of place.

The walkable trails provide locals and visitors alike the ability to scan a QR code at each artwork to learn more about the piece, meet the artists and reveal behind-the-scenes footage of some of the artworks.

The Shire’s Sustainable Economy Officer Saul Cresswell said the benefits of the online art trails were multifaceted. “These trails are an invitation to engage with local art in a way that is fun and insightful, exploring hidden gems and taking time to appreciate our townsites. Much of the art reflects upon what it means to live here, celebrating a sense of belonging and community connection” he said.

“This creative collaboration adds another uniquely local flavour to our townsites and provides increased exposure for local artists, shining a light on the immense creative talent in the region.”

The Creative Corner Manager Anita Pettit said the trails, which include both Shire and privately commissioned works in public spaces, would continue to grow and evolve with opportunities for additional public art to be added to the trails as well as a number of exciting milestones ahead.

“The art trails will continue to grow and evolve over time. We’re really excited to see more street art popping up in Augusta and look forward to the addition of those works to an Augusta-specific trail,” she said. “Local creative and producer Mike Dunn from Phi Media is working on some exciting new developments, including the addition of augmented reality to deepen the experience even further.”

Margaret River Art Trails has involved local creatives behind the scenes too, including South West based agency The Box, marketing guru and wordsmith Lizzy Pepper and graphic designer Rebeca Vonk.

Locals, visitors and arts enthusiasts of all kinds are encouraged to check out the trails by scanning a QR code from the streets, jumping online at margaretriverarttrails.com.au or following @margaretriverarttrails on Instagram.

The Margaret River Art Trails were developed by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and Creative Corner, with funding from the Shire as well as the State Government’s Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries and the South West Development Commission.