About The East Coast Arts Trail®
Connecting Creativity Along Australia's Coastline.
From cities to country, rainforests to reef – we're building a cultural movement that revitalises Australia's art scene.
The East Coast Arts Trail® is an Australian art marketplace and arts trail where buyers can discover and buy original Australian art from independent Australian artists across Australia. Browse original Australian art from the community we represent.
Our Story
The East Coast Arts Trail® was born from personal experience and heartfelt loss. I spent five transformative years at an Art and Design School in Sutton Coldfield, studying ceramics and jewellery through an HND in 3D design. The school was run by active artists supplementing their income through teaching – metalworkers, ceramicists, photographers, fine art instructors, art historians, jewellery designers, fabric designers. The full works.
Trying university next, I spent three years behind a computer screen studying Product Design and Engineering, hoping they'd let me use the workshops. It never came – I'd chosen the wrong course. My skills depleted, I decided to travel hoping to find my creative wings again. Needing work, I discovered scuba instruction and ended up in Cairns, exploring oceans instead of clay and metal.
The idea of returning to the arts always sat just under the skin, but I felt the creativity had gone. Until tragedy struck close to home, reminding me why artists need platforms, community, and support. This platform connects artists, venues, and art enthusiasts across Australia's stunning coastline – from tropical Queensland rainforests to Melbourne's vibrant galleries to Tasmania's wild beauty, recognising the Traditional Country names that give these places their deep cultural significance.
While we call ourselves "The East Coast Arts Trail," our hearts embrace all of Australia. The West has wild creativity, the Territory holds some of our greatest Aboriginal artists, and South Australia pulses with cultural innovation. The East Coast is simply where we live – but Australian art has no borders.
In Loving Memory
Shari-Lee Bromley
August 27, 1986 - November 24, 2023
Byron Bay Artist
Shari-Lee was a dear friend who lived in Byron Bay and worked in fashion and makeup artistry before discovering her true calling in painting. Her transition from fashion to fine art resulted in incredible paintings that captured something truly special. She had just completed her first year at a Northern Rivers NSW art school and was out celebrating this achievement when a medical emergency tragically took her from her loving partner Sean and her two beautiful daughters.
Quietly, I've been thinking about Shari and how her life could have become something even more beautiful than it already was. Her paintings were fantastic, and she had assembled quite the collection during her artistic renaissance.
A Tribute
Unstoppable they called her
but I saw her stop
I saw her stop
many, many times.
Sometimes
I thought she had stopped for good
but no
she always found a way
to resurrect.
To rise again.
Not the same
never the same.
Each time a little more determined
and a little less vulnerable.
Unstoppable they said
but I think
it was in the stopping
that she found
her power.
— Donna Ashworth
Honoring Her Legacy
With permission from her family, we will be displaying Shari-Lee's artwork to raise funds for her daughters' future. She will be permanently featured on our dedications page and in our featured artist section.
Her creativity and spirit live on through her art, and every piece shared helps secure her daughters' tomorrow.
Why We're Different
Artist-First Platform
Fair pricing with just 5% commission. Artists keep 95% of every sale – no hidden fees, no surprises.
Cultural Recognition
We honour First Nations heritage with Traditional Country names and authentic Indigenous artist verification.
Complete Art Ecosystem
Not just sales – we support events, venue bookings, and all 25 art forms from traditional painting to performance art and art therapy.
Community-Driven
Artists, venues, and buyers all participate in the art economy. Everyone can buy, creating a vibrant creative community.
Our Mission
To create Australia's most artist-friendly marketplace, where creativity thrives and cultural connections flourish. We're building bridges between artists and audiences, turning art discovery into art appreciation into art ownership.
Our Vision
A thriving Australian art ecosystem spanning Queensland to Tasmania, Perth to Darwin, Adelaide to Alice Springs – where every artist across all states and territories has a sustainable income, every venue hosts memorable events, and every art lover discovers their next favourite piece. We're not just a marketplace – we're a national cultural movement with East Coast specialisation.
What We Offer
For Artists
- • $7/month (23c daily) subscription
- • Professional artist profiles
- • Artwork showcase and sales
- • Marketing and promotion
- • Event participation
For Venues
- • $10/month (33c daily) subscription
- • Event hosting and promotion
- • "Book Me" connection system
- • Venue directory listing
- • Artist collaboration tools
For Everyone
- • Free buyer accounts forever
- • Artwork browsing and purchasing
- • Artist and venue discovery
- • Event exploration
- • Cultural blog and stories
Our Coverage
Australia-Wide Coverage: 68+ regions across all states and territories with Traditional Country recognition. While we specialise in East Coast promotion, we serve the entire Australian creative community.
East Coast Specialisation
Our primary focus regions with enhanced promotion:
National Expansion
Serving artists and venues across:
Sample East Coast regions:
Art We Celebrate
"If it's art, it belongs." We support all 43 art forms and our growing Yoga offerings in our complete ecosystem:
Visual Arts
Digital Art
Performance
Music
Yoga & Wellness
Crafts
Writing & Poetry
Film & Media
Mixed Media & Body Art
Therapeutic & Design
Fine Art Services
Help Build This Movement
🚀 We're a Startup - And Every Great Startup Needs Community
The East Coast Arts Trail® is more than a platform – it's a cultural movement that needs passionate people to help it grow. We believe in collaboration over competition, and we're looking for creative minds to join our mission.
🎨 Creative Collaborations
- • Designers wanting to create branded merchandise with us
- • Potters and ceramicists crafting platform-branded items
- • Artists designing promotional materials and campaigns
- • Writers contributing to our cultural blog and stories
🛠️ Professional Support
- • Web developers and designers improving user experience
- • Marketing professionals growing our reach
- • Business advisors sharing startup wisdom
- • Community builders helping expand our network
🤝 What We Offer Collaborators
Free Platform Access:
- • Complimentary artist or venue subscriptions
- • Featured placement for your contributions
- • Cross-promotion across our networks
Collaboration Benefits:
- • Revenue sharing on merchandise sales
- • Co-branding opportunities
📍 All of Australia Welcome
We're "East Coast" by location, Australian by heart. Whether you're creating in Western Australia's wild landscapes, capturing the Territory's ancient stories, or innovating in South Australia's cultural hubs – there's space for you in this movement.
Australian creativity knows no state borders. Let's build something beautiful together, coast to coast.
Honest Platform Comparison
We respect that artists have choices. Here's where we fit in the landscape:
What Others Do Well:
- •Bluethumb : Large established community, proven track record
- •Saatchi Art : Global reach, international collector base
- •Art Lovers Australia : Strong Australian focus, established relationships
What We Bring:
- •Our current commission rate (vs industry standard 33-40%)
- •Fair automated promotion (no pay-to-play)
- •Cultural mapping and Traditional Country respect
- •Community-driven pricing (5% after Stripe fees deducted when we reach 1000+ artists)
Our Belief:
The art world is big enough for platforms that serve artists differently. We're focused on fair economics and cultural values - you decide if that aligns with your goals.
*No affiliation. Links provided for artist research. Rates as of September 2025.
Ready to Collaborate?
Have an idea? Want to contribute? Ready to be part of Australia's cultural renaissance? We'd love to hear from passionate people who believe in supporting artists.
Let's build this together:
HelpBuild@theeastcoastartstrail.com.au
Mission support donations help fund platform development, artist promotion initiatives, and community programs. Not tax-deductible (we're a commercial platform, not a registered charity).
Share The East Coast Arts Trail®
Scan to share with friends and fellow art lovers
What Our Community Says
The East Coast Arts Trail® was built for artists, collectors, and communities. Here's what they say.
“Nikki does a great job with supporting Aussie artists.”
“Such a fab platform that exists to connect people and communities through art, while supporting both the buyers and artists.”
“The East Coast Arts Trail is an amazing, supportive platform for Australian artists.”
“A great opportunity for artists to display and sell their work without having to pay high commission fees.”
Help Build Australia's Art Movement
Know talented artists or great venues that should be here? Invite them to join The East Coast Arts Trail®
Expand Your Network
Connect artists with venues for exhibitions, workshops, and collaborative events across Australia
Grow Together
Help build Australia's creative community while expanding opportunities for everyone
Earn Rewards
• 1 free month when referred artist makes first sale via our platform
• 1 free month when referred venue gets first booking via our platform
Collaborators, Partnerships & Sponsors
Interested in partnering with The East Coast Arts Trail®? Get in touch at info@theeastcoastartstrail.com.au