Saltaire’s popular Arts Trail will expand its appeal to more members of West Yorkshire’s artistic community, its organisers have announced.

Saltaire Inspired, which has run an Open Houses event as part of the Saltaire Festival for the past three years, will break away next year to run its own stand-alone event.

Open Houses sees Saltaire villagers throwing their doors open for the public to browse artworks and has been a major showcase for local artistic talent.

It will take place as it has during the festival in September with other Arts Trail events, before moving to a new slot in May 2011.

Organiser David Worsley said: “The festival is a fantastic event and does great things for the community.

“But we want to show what the visual arts can do for Bradford and West York-shire with some themes that we want to develop with events throughout the year.”

He said a six-person Saltaire Inspired board has been set up to develop art events on themes including education, heritage, family, fun and inspiration.

Future events could see the group teaming up with other arts and media organisations such as the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Community groups such as the Shipley-based Isis Centre, which helps women who have been through trauma, and the Cellar Project, which helps people with mental health issues, will also help organise events, said Mr Worsley.

Popular attractions such as the Makers and Crafts Fairs, will also take place during the May 2011 event as well as the Saltaire Festival.

Mr Worsley, of Dove Street, Saltaire, said this year’s Saltaire Festival would include the Arts Trail as a showcase for next year.

He said: “Bradford is a very creative city with the UNESCO City of Film and Saltaire’s World Heritage Site. We want to bring these together to show the area’s creativity.”