Running for its second year, the Hope Valley Art Trail by Rail takes place on 26-27 September 2026. This is a unique event to the area and celebrates local creativity and sustainable travel.
Everyone will be invited to travel on the Hope Valley railway line and local buses to hop on and off to explore local creativity village by village. Last year we had 18 amazing artists taking part across 9 venues between Edale and Grindleford, offering everything from sketching and collage to painting and open studio visits. We also had pottery and sketching workshops along with the special opening of the historic Padley Chapel.
Apply to take part as an Artist
We welcome applications from artists and makers working across a wide range of disciplines and experience levels.
Key things to note:
- The event takes place over two days, 26 – 27 September 10:00 – 17:00
- The project focuses on promoting sustainable travel, with the train line acting as the main route through the festival.
- Because of this, the core trail is centred around studios and venues that are accessible from stations between and including, Grindleford and Edale.
- Artists who are based further from the line, or who do not have their own studio space, may also be placed within shared community venues in villages along the route. Currently we have spaces at Hathersage Memorial Hall and the Hope Valley Garden Centre so please state if you need a venue on the application form and we will be in touch.
We are also open to extending the trail into villages beyond the railway line where there is a strong cluster of participating artists and if it is accessible by public transport. This helps make the journey worthwhile for visitors while keeping the trail connected and manageable overall.
Applications will be open until midnight 30 June 2026. Once all applications have been received we will be in touch with you to confirm your place and request a £20 contribution for taking part.
Please read the Artist Participation Terms and Conditions before completing your registration.
Apply for this year’s festival here: Register for the Hope Valley Art Trail by Rail
You can find out more about last years’ festival through our previous blogs here:
Art Trail 2025
Event Summary and Highlights
Activities and Workshops Blog
If you have any questions or need support with the application process please contact EmilyGait@hopevalleyclimateaction.org.uk
Visit our Art Trail by Rail page for more information about the festival.
We look forward to your application!
2 responses
It’s great to see a space for artists without their own studios to still participate in a shared space like Hathersage Memorial Hall. This demonstrates that Art Trail by Rail is truly inclusive and embraces all levels of creators in the region.
Great to hear from you, and thank you for your support. Will you be joining us?