Henry County and the City of Martinsville, VA: - The Artisans Center of Virginia (ACV), in partnership with Martinsville and Henry County citizens, celebrates the naming of the newest artisan trail in the Virginia Artisan Trail Network system:
Smith River Artisan Trail: Where Creativity Flows & Grows
After 6 months of community meetings, lunch & learns, and an exciting amount of creative input with consideration by key stakeholders and the trail’s management team, consensus lead to the branding of their artisan trail.
“Martinsville-Henry County is proud to be home of the new Smith River Artisan Trail. The development of this driving tour of area artisans and agri-artisans is the perfect way to showcase the work of our talented residents.” Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism, Martinsville-Henry County
With 18 trail sites already signed on during the preparation phase of the program, the Naming of the Trail kicks off the Official Registration Period for trail sites. Although registration in the program is year ‘round, those who wish to be included in the trail’s launch brochure/map, which is a comprehensive print feature, must register by November 20, 2014.
The Smith River Artisan Trail is a regional trailway that connects destinations including artisan/artist studios, galleries, agri-artisan farms, markets, local restaurants, lodging, and area points of interest in Martinsville-Henry County.
"The City of Martinsville is excited to be a part of the Martinsville-Henry County’s Smith River Artisan Trail. Many Martinsville business owners, museum directors, artisans, agri-artisans, and craftspeople have jumped on board to be a part the trail, and the City of Martinsville’s Community Development office is proud to be a member of the management team in this effort. The formation of the Smith River Artisan Trail illustrates that the community’s quality of life is ever growing, and talented citizens of MHC are cohesively recognizing and promoting the gifts flowing from the people of the Smith River,” said Susan McCulloch, Community Planner for the City of Martinsville.
The trail’s “handcrafted and locally grown” focus offers an attractive and compelling pathway celebrating the artisan traditions and culture of the Smith River region and is viewed as a major economic development and tourism initiative for the area.
Along with promoting the visibility and sales of local artisan-related products, the Trail will provide an important boost to the area’s general tourism industry by extending visitor stays in the community and increasing the attractiveness as a tourist destination.
“At the Artisan Center in Martinsville, we’re all about helping creative professionals turn their passion for art into a business opportunity,” said Kimberly Buck, coordinator of community development programs at Patrick Henry Community College and coordinator of the college’s Artisan Center on Church St., which is an artisan trail site offering arts and entrepreneurship classes and a retail store selling the work of more than 50 regional artisans. “The Smith River Artisan Trail program is really going to help those efforts – it’s another way for our talented local artists and artisans to bring in tourism and market their work to new customers. Planning the trail has already helped our arts and cultural community network and work together more closely. We hope more artisans and agri-artisans will take advantage of this opportunity and join us on the trail.”
