The City of Adelaide is world-renowned for its art and culture festivals, and now a new trail through the city will make the city’s creative pieces and places easy for anyone to discover all year round.
The Art and Culture Trail will lead people on a journey to uncover Adelaide’s cultural wonders and discover insights about hidden gems as well as treasured favourites.
Four self-guided trails have been created: public art, live music, performing arts, and a design, architecture and makers trail. An online map provides details of each trail and the items of interest to be found.
Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that this trail will enable the city’s visitors, residents and workers to discover Adelaide’s cultural heartbeat.
“Adelaide is a UNESCO Creative City, as well as a UNESCO City of Music and these trails showcase why we have received these accolades.
“Music, the arts, culture and creativity are in our DNA. Following the art and cultural trails will take you to heritage architecture and public sculptures, artists and makers hubs, interactive art pieces, live music venues, local theatrical icons and Kaurna representation, among many others.
“You can follow one of the designated trails or use the interactive map to create your own. I encourage everyone to get out there and explore the wonderful creative places and spaces in our city.”
Signage will be placed at various places around the city to help people find the location of a place of cultural significance. The trail covers a diverse mix of Adelaide’s stories and experiences. Some examples are:
- Live music in the West End (out the front of Jive on Hindley Street) – Rock royalty Cold Chisel and internationally renowned singer/songwriter Sia both began their journey to fame in Adelaide’s West End. Cold Chisel performed at the Mediterranean Hotel (now Jive) and Sia at the former Cargo Club. Explore the West End’s bars and clubs and discover the next superstar in the making.
- South Australian Music Hall of Fame (out the front of St Paul’s) – Discover local music legends at the South Australian Music Hall of Fame, just inside St Paul’s front door, including Cold Chisel, The Angels, band members of No Fixed Address and The Superjesus just to name few.
- ‘The Riverbank is the Kaurna Marketplace’ (Topham Mall South) – Forming part of the Market to Riverbank trail, ‘Riverbank is a Kaurna Market ‘ by Paul Herzich invites people to experience aspects of Kaurna culture as they make their way through Topham Mall. Introducing art into everyday spaces, the laneway also features ‘Geode’ by Amy Joy Watson along the drainage gates.
- ‘Sensing with Light’ – John Tonkin’s artwork of the same name comes to life at night – get up close, play and see how it changes.
- Birthplace of Australian contemporary dance – Australia’s first modern professional dance company, Australian Dance Theatre was established in 1967 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman. The company challenged audiences and critics alike, dancing without shoes and to modern music was considered to be very different and risqué. The ADT home studio was housed here on Gouger St for many years after moving from Gays Arcade.
- Adelaide’s first major arts festival – Recognised as one of the world’s best international art festivals, Adelaide Festival began in 1960 and included Australia’s first book festival, Adelaide Writers’ Week. The same year a small group of independent artists created the Adelaide Fringe.
- Artisan oasis – The East End is a mecca of artisan offerings with the very best in food, wine, fashion and design. The cosmopolitan district plays host to some of Adelaide’s best-known street art, boutiques, pop-up markets, restaurants, pubs, cafes and small bars.
To access the trails and maps, go to
