Enthusiasm is growing for the inaugural Outside Art Festival in Waitaki, with registrations now open for two of the key events.
Outside Art 2015, a festival of visual arts, aims to bring the arts outside, to make them more visible and accessible to the widest possible audience.
It will be held in Oamaru over Otago Anniversary weekend next year, in conjunction with the third annual Harbour St Jazz Festival.
''We'd like it to be a really cool Oamaru long weekend,'' Tourism Waitaki marketing manager Ian Elliott said.
The Waitaki Arts Trail will be launched during the festival weekend, March 21 to 23, and artists living in the Waitaki district are invited to join the trail by providing details for a listing on the trail map so festival-goers can visit during the week.
Mr Elliott said the Waitaki Arts Trail would provide a pathway to experience the arts of Waitaki, connecting visitors with the district's vibrant arts community.
Organisers intend to keep the trail in use after the festival to encourage ongoing engagement with local arts.
Limited spaces are available for ''associated events''.
''The aim is to open up the programme to as many art forms as possible. Events could include fine arts, performing arts, music, crafts, poetry, literary arts, dance, street art, culinary arts, video art etc,'' Mr Elliott said.
Registration for the Waitaki Arts Trail closes on February 2 and associated event registrations close on February 9. Registration forms are available from the Oamaru iSITE.
