Local Residents Active in Eastern Shore Artisan Trail

The Artisans Center of Virginia, in partnership with citizens on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, celebrates the naming of the newest artisan trail in the Virginia Artisan Trail Network system: “Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail.” 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 led to the branding of their artisan trail.

“Inspired by the diversity of the landscape and its people, the creativity on the Eastern Shore, be it through art, food, drink or history is limitless. Following the trail enables everyone to drink in the abounding warmth and hospitality of our region while experiencing all that Virginia’s Eastern Shore has to offer,” said Miriam Elton, owner of Brown Dog ice cream.

“I’m so excited to see communities, businesses, and independent artisans of all types come together in the name of art! the opportunities are endless,” says Sandy McFall of Gallery 209.

With 24 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 January 15, 2015.

Virginia’s Eastern Shore 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 all across the two counties of Northampton and Accomack, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

“The first Eastern Shore artists, centuries ago, created works of art for practical reasons: a carved duck decoy, a painted clay pot, the iron oyster rake. The Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail will connect that storied past to now. Eastern Shore artisans create exquisitely wrought everyday things along with a stunning range of creative product for visitors to experience, from heirloom sweet potato farmers and wine makers to chefs, painters, filmmakers, glassblowers, musicians, dancers, writers, actors. Once Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail gives you the map, you’ll be able to find and experience these creative souls in person and it will change your life forever.” Kerry Allison, Executive Director, Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission

The trail’s “handcrafted and locally grown” focus offers an attractive and compelling pathway celebrating the artisan traditions and culture of the Eastern Shore region and is viewed as a major economic development and tourism initiative for the area.

Along with networking and connecting local businesses in a community collaborative, 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.

“Our market vendors are all local farmers, watermen and artisans who bring their bounty to the market each week, therefore we believe that The Onancock Market qualifies as the very definition of who should be an Artisan Trail participant. We look forward with excitement to the launch of Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail and believe it is a most appropriate and valuable media vehicle in which to promote the Onancock Market,” said Janet Fosque, Manager, Onancock Market.

Year ‘round trail promotion via the trail’s website features a regional map of trail sites, each trail site’s unique profile which includes their business description, hours of operation, address, and location on the trail map along with social marketing integrations and other informational features for events and activity promotions.

“At the Barrier Islands Center, we love to celebrate the bounty and talents of the Eastern Shore with visitors. Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail perfectly coordinates these and gives us the tools to effectively promote all who participate. It is a pleasure to be part of something so positive and fun,“ says Kristen Dennis, Barrier Islands Center.

Benefiting from ACV’s substantive online positioning and traffic, the “Plan a Visit” function allows visitors to use the integrated trip planner applications of the Virginia Tourism Corporation to easily map out their trail adventures. They can save attractions, shopping, dining, lodging and other travel information and items of interest to personalize and maximize their travels.

In addition to the artisan studios and agricultural artisan businesses, supporting sites such as locally owned lodging, restaurants and cultural points of interest are welcome to become site participants on the trail.

Interested individuals and businesses in Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail can download the “Artisan Trail Network Guidelines” explaining the participation criteria and program details by contacting the Artisans Center of Virginia at [email protected].

About Virginia’s Eastern Shore: A 70-mile coastal peninsula on the mid-Atlantic seaboard, with the Chesapeake Bay on one coast and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The longest stretch of undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast. Kayakers, hikers, boaters, fisherman, birders and nature lovers of all stripes revel in the area’s stunning wild beauty. Two National Wildlife Refuges, a National Seashore, and state and local parks preserve thousands of pristine acres and hundreds of miles of coastline. Chincoteague Island, named “America’s Friendliest Seaside Town” in 2014, is the gateway to Assateague Island, home of the famous Chincoteague ponies and one of America’s best beaches.

Settled in the 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore is home to the country’s oldest courthouse records and dozens of interesting small museums and historic sites. America’s future is being written at NASA’s Wallops Island, where major rocket launches attract space enthusiasts from around the world.

Small villages and waterside towns have growing numbers of B&Bs, inns, boutique hotels, shops, restaurants, harbors, antique stores, art galleries and farmers markets. Quiet farm retreats, serene beach houses & larger facilities attract retreats, family reunions and weddings. Three golf courses include signature Palmer/Nicholas greens with water views. Galleries, stages, live music, coffeehouses, classes and workshops reflect a rich artistic culture and centuries of eclectic creative expression.

A major seafood producing region, the Eastern Shore’s culinary traditions star fresh-caught, seasonal seafood pulled straight from the surrounding waters, and found on restaurant menus and available retail, along with wine produced by an award-winning local winery. Local aqua farmers grow oysters and clams using techniques invented here. Rich soil produces crops that help feed America, and visitors and locals eat hyper-local via organic farms, roadside stands, farmers markets and pick-your-own orchards and crops.

Until just a few years ago, mapmakers often left Virginia’s Eastern Shore off maps. Until the 1960s, when the engineering marvel, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was erected, the only transportation to the southern tip was by a half-day ferry. Come discover the undiscovered.

About the Artisans Center of Virginia: The Artisans Center of Virginia develops and implements systems and strategies to improve economic outcomes for Virginia artisans and their communities while assisting them in promoting their local artisan culture. In 1997 the Artisans Center of Virginia was incorporated and on June 11, 2000, it was designated to the public as the “Official State Artisans Center.” Service to the entire state and its artisan community has been at the forefront of planning and programming.

One of three primary strategic program initiatives of the ACV, the Artisan Trail Network with its community loops are designed to attract visitors to artisan studios, agri-artisan farms and local artisan businesses (Research, based on similar artisan trails/craft related activities in Western North Carolina per a 2008 study has shown that compared to the earlier (1995) HandMade in America study, “Craft consumers reported $164.09 total craft spending at the event where they were surveyed and annual craft spending of $908.61. This is a 46% increase over the 1995 study. Craft consumers visiting the area reported spending $146.86 per day compared to $95.94 per day for the 2006 visitor. They spent a total of $642.03 on their trip to Western North Carolina, of which $245.94 was spent on craft purchases – 38.31%- and $396.09 on lodging, transportation, meals, and other purchases.”

The state of Virginia’s “official” artisan organization, the Artisans Center of Virginia is supported by its members and other program partners like the Virginia Tourism Corporation and Virginia Commission for the Arts with additional support made possible for the Artisan Trail Network program by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and local foundations and community sponsors in regional trail jurisdictions.

Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail Management Team:
Kerry Allison – Eastern Shore Tourism Commission
Karyn Belknap – Ten Good Sheep, ACV Board of Directors
Bob Bilicki – Current Reflections Fine Art Gallery
Kristen Dennis – Barrier Islands Center
Miriam Elton – brown dog ice cream
Janet Fosque – The Onancock Market
Aileen Joeckel – Blue Crab Bay Co.
Blake Johnson – Island House Restaurant
Donna Olney Kohler – Fig Street Inn
Sandy McFall – gallery 209
Sherri Smith, Artisans Center of Virginia
Bobbie Walker – Virginia Tourism Corporation
Mills Wehner – Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek

The culture of the Virginia Artisan inspires appreciative audiences for its unique products while expressing a distinctive way of life. It invokes a natural order, firmly woven into the everyday fabric of an artisan’s life, embracing the familiar relationship between the acts of creating and living. Once immersed in the culture, whether producing “hand-made” or enjoying the use and aesthetic of artisan produced items, an intimate lifelong relationship of value and appreciation emerges strong and true. Artisan culture links the past, present & future, reconciling “meaning” with “making”, as it embodies traditional practices and explores creative inovations and new trends that touch all facets of society.