Arts Trail on 21

Huron County has a rich cultural heritage, with generations of artists making their home in communities along the shores of Lake Huron. In nearly every community along the coast, you’ll find a gallery (or three). The natural beauty of life nestled between a Great Lake and the rolling fields of farmland has an endless capacity to provide inspiration to those who seek it.

Bayfield Centre for the Arts President Leslee Squirrell credits fellow BCA member Laura Dirk for the idea to connect artists and arts organizations in the lakeshore communities by the thoroughfare that connects them all: Highway 21 between Owen Sound and Kettle Point. 

The Bayfield Centre for the Arts has developed an online interactive map, made possible through funding from Regional Tourism Organization 4 Inc. (RTO4), with the aim to connect tourists and residents with the local cultural and artistic destinations, including public art installations, galleries, art schools, workshops, co-ops, classes, shops, studios, events and expressions of handmade art in various forms. 

While the initiative has partnered with 17 organizations so far, the Bayfield Centre for the Arts plans to continue expanding the project with more collaborators and encourages any artists or organizations to get in touch with them. There is even the potential to expand the project beyond the limits of Highway 21 and deeper into the county.

The Arts Trail on 21 interactive map is currently available online at https://bayfieldarts.ca/a-journey-of-creativity/. The Bayfield Centre for the Arts is currently planning on promoting the campaign by distributing promotional cards printed with a QR code to access the interactive map. They plan to make these available at local businesses and information centres in the near future. 

As a volunteer-run organization, the Bayfield Centre for the Arts hopes that the Arts Trail on 21 will assist travelers and residents to enjoy and support the local arts community, as well as to inspire locals to engage with their community arts organizations so that the legacy of art and culture can continue to grow and inspire. 

For more information or to connect with the Bayfield Centre for the Arts, visit bayfieldarts.ca, Arts Trail on 21 on Facebook, or email hello@bayfieldarts.ca.