Land (2003-2007) was a unique education and creative arts project at the heart of the East Lancashire Regional Park initiative led by the Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP). Funded by LEP, Arts Council England North West and Lancashire County Council,
Land was a partner project to Panopticons, an exciting scheme to erect a series
of 21st-century landmarks in the hills of East Lancashire, as symbols of the area’s regeneration and pride.
While Panopticons involved professional designers and builders in creating large-scale structures, Land involved local people of all ages in making a positive difference to their own surroundings through creative activity led by professional artists.
Although Land officially came to an end in March 2007, a number of legacy projects, already in the planning stage before that date, have continued to be developed and completed throughout 2007 and 2008 as we report below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a further off-shoot from the Land project, young people from Holcombe Pony Club are to take part in artist-run workshops during summer 2008 to enable them to help with the design and build of a stone-carved equestrian sculpture and carved informal seating. These will be sited in a new outdoor classroom, which the children will also be involved in constructing, close to Croft Top Equestrian Centre, Rising Bridge, Rossendale.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Through Land, local children have been involved in creating a unique Shoe Trail leading from Rawtenstall to Rossendale's Panopticon 'Halo', celebrating the traditional shoemaking industry of the area.
Working with artist Julie Miles, Year 7 pupils at Haslingden High School and All Saints Catholic High School in Rawtenstall have worked up designs for sculptural shoe pieces with artist Julie Miles which Julie is now carving in brick. The shoe sculptures, representing a variety of shoe designs, will be mounted on concrete plinths at intervals along the Trail.
The Trail will begin on the grassed area outside Rawtenstall Railway Station and continue along Haslingden Road, passing through Whitaker Park, before crossing by the side of Rossendale Ski Slope to join the bridle way which climbs to Top o’ Slate above Haslingden where 'Halo' is situated. The completed Trail is due to open in September 2008.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Giant, a 16ft-high figurative sculpture in steel and willow surrounded by several wooden towers, was installed in October 2007 on land owned by Crow Wood Leisure Centre, overlooking the M65 motorway on the border between Pendle and Burnley. The sculpture, by internationally acclaimed willow artist, Serena de la Hey, is another important legacy piece originating from the Land project.
Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts, who commissioned the sculpture, said, "We are delighted to have been able to bring one of Serena's superlative sculptures to Pennine Lancashire." He also paid tribute to Andrew Brown and his team at Crow Wood Leisure Centre who were instrumental in the successful completion of the project.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International pavement artist Julian Beever spent four days at Higherford Mill in Barrowford from Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 March 2007 to mark the finale of Land. Julian, whose extraordinary 3-D chalk images have delighted viewers all over the UK and Europe, the USA and Australia, agreed to create a surprise finale piece for Land and the finished item was on display at the Mill on the Sunday afternoon. The artists based at the Mill opened their studios during the four-day period and over 1,000 people visited the Mill during the residency.
The drawing Julian created especially for Land was designed to be interacted with, as shown here, and many visitors had their photographs taken on the Land maypole!
To see a large-scale version of the above image, click here
To see an amazing virtual tour of the piece visit Boxroom
To see a film of the artwork being produced click here. You will need QuickTime or some other movie-playing software to view this film.
Higherford Mill is owned and managed by the Heritage Trust of the North West. We are grateful to HTNW for their support with this project.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local schoolchildren and students played an important part in the launch of 'Singing Ringing Tree' in December 2006. Through Land, various schools worked with Shaggy Dog Storytellers to devise a new story about the Tree which was read to guests at the launch event. And students from Unity College took part in a Hallé education project to compose and perform a new piece especially for the occasion.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children from Bradley Street Primary School, Nelson, were among the performers at the celebrations for the opening of Pendle's Panopticon 'Atom' at the end of September 2006. Following drumming workshops with Martin South and Philip Howley, organised through Land, the children provided a rousing finale to the launch event.
Year Five pupils at Coates Lane Primary School in Barnoldswick worked over the summer of 2006 to create some delightful new features for the local community gardens. (More...)
In 2005 Mid Pennine Arts ran a pilot project called Shopkeepers which looked at the impact of regeneration on local shops. This project is now being rolled out to other districts under the name Talking Shop. (More...)
‘Convex Green’, the unique, large-scale labyrinth commissioned from international artist Jim Buchanan by Ribble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe The Future and Land, is now in place on the former bowling green in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle, and was officially opened at a launch event in August 2005. (More...)
Image: Clitheroe Castle labyrinth
The transformation of a run-down area at Within Grove in the Huncoat area of Hyndburn is advancing steadily, thanks to continuing work by Land artist Kerry Morrison and local people committed to improving their surroundings. (More...)
Image: Within Grove
