Blackwood River Arts Trail 5th anniversary 

A five-year-old BRAT is usually to be avoided — but Blackwood River Arts Trail (BRAT) is from April 5 to 20, 2025, and it is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

In the Blackwood River region, which includes Nannup, Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Donnybrook, Balingup and Boyup Brook, this year’s BRAT sees more than 100 artists opening their home studios, exhibitions held in more than 30 venues, and the Blackwood River Film Festival.

INSIGHTS & HIGHLIGHTS

+ The rare opportunity of being able to visit home studios gives an insight into the artists’ creative environments and their processes.

+ Exhibitions will be in cafes, gardens, gift shops, small galleries and collective spaces.

+ The trail includes sculpture, painting, ceramics, textile and wearable art, mosaics, weaving, felting, illustration, poetry and photography.

+ Artists along the trail will also offer workshops.

+ In Nannup, the youngest BRAT artist, eight-year-old Charlie Baker, will exhibit his pencil and charcoal studies. Monique Chapman, a leather crafter, exhibits her work in Boyup Brook.

FILM SESSIONS

+ Blackwood River Film Festival will show films by Australian and overseas filmmakers on the first (Nannup), second (Bridgetown) and third (Balingup) weekends of the trail. Each session is $10, or $25 for any three.

+ Screenings are at the Nannup Town Hall on Saturday 5 April and Sunday 6 April at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm. On Saturday 12 April and Sunday 13 April they are at the Repertory Theatre Bridgetown at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm and a new venue for 2025 is the Balingup Town Hall with screenings on Saturday 19 April and Sunday 20 April at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm.

fact file

+ Details for the Blackwood River Arts Trail and the Blackwood River Film Festival are now available in a printed guide available from Jacksons Drawing Supplies.

+ It is also is available on the home page of the website along with all information at blackwoodriverartstrail.com.