Aboriginal artists of the Goldfields region in Western Australia are working towards using art as a way to develop self employment and an income. In order to achieve this, a market is needed for the work. A number of small towns have developed or are in the process of developing community art galleries in order to showcase work to the community and to tourists passing through.

The artists live in the towns of Leonora, Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Menzies, Wiluna and Sandstone and surrounding Aboriginal communities. Employment in these towns is very low. In some towns, only 5% of the Aboriginal population have secure employment. The development of an income through sales of art work will have a major impact on many Aboriginal families, not only financially but in terms of confidence, self esteem and self determination.

The art galleries operate independently and often with volunteers. Funds for marketing and promotion do not exist.

However, the Goldfields region has a large number of visitors and tourists, many of whom are seeking Aboriginal art.These people don't know where to find the work and the galleries.

This project aims to develop a 'Goldfields Aboriginal Arts Trail' which will consist of a brochure, an arts trail website and signage which will direct the tourist flow to the galleries.

This arts trail will enable tourists and visitors to plan their visit by following the trail from town to town and be immersed in Aboriginal art and positive experiences with the artists.

The complete arts trail is expected to cost $30 000 to develop. It will be developed in stages, as funds become available and as additional art works are sold and the galleries generate funds.

The funds from this Pozible project will be used to develop the first stage of the trail's development. That is, to develop a logo and trail brand and to develop a printed and electronic version of the trail brochure.

The second stage of the project is for the development of trail signage for each town and art gallery.
The third stage is the development of a Goldfields Aboriginal Arts Trail website.

Stage 2 and 3 will happen once funds have been sourced or as the community art galleries generate sales.

The greatest risk or challenge facing the Goldfields Aboriginal Arts Trail is the inability to launch due to lack of start-up funds. A number of government funding bodies have been approached for start up funds but the project falls outside current funding guidelines.

However, this project is about Aboriginal people developing a marketplace for themselves and their own art work. Once start-up funds have been found, the flow of traffic to the art galleries will increase and further stabilise and support development of a solid marketplace.

The second risk is that the market for Aboriginal art quietens down. This risk is seen as low as there has been a steadily growing market for genuine, quality art for many years.