Arts Trail on 21
When the future of Arts Trail on 21 became uncertain, we stepped in to make sure visitors and artists alike could still Take the Trail.
Services
Strategy
Branding
Design
Copywriting
Photography
Social Media
Video
The almost 200km between Grand Bend and Owen Sound along the old Highway 21 has long attracted the artistic, but until 2021 artists and galleries along the route were isolated in their rural communities. To better support each other, and to attract attention from outside the region, these artists, galleries, and art organizations banded together to create the Arts Trail on 21.
What started as a way to help local arts scenes has grown and grown. Managed originally by the Bayfield Centre for the Arts, Banko has supported the Trail since 2021, creating marketing materials and social media content for the organization.
In late 2025, it became clear that Arts Trail on 21 had grown too much for the original organizers’ capacity. That’s when we stepped in, taking ownership of the Arts Trail on 21 brand and marketing channels, ensuring the initiative could continue while positioning it for long-term growth.
Our focus wasn’t simply maintaining what existed. It was creating a stronger experience for both visitors and members.
The centrepiece of this new strategy is a custom, multi-purpose website that serves both members and visitors to the trail alike. The website has an intuitive and automatic trip-planning tool that charts driving routes between galleries using Google Maps. The site also features a robust member’s backend dashboard so that members can best represent themselves and advertise their art events on the website. The goal is to make Arts Trail on 21 a regional hub for all arts and culture news across Southwestern Ontario.
Similarly, a consistent and frequent social media presence highlights members and their events, workshops, and classes — drawing external attention to local organizations — while also connecting local artists with resources and grant supports.
As Arts Trail on 21 grows, we look forward to building more tools, like planned itineraries and partnerships with local businesses, that will make it easier and better for everyone to Take the Trail.
