The Rusland Horizons Trust has launched a new 'Art in the Environment' initiative to explore how the landscape inspires us, from creative writing to landscape photography.
Two projects are being launched in early 2020:
1. Creative Writing
This project is starting with a series of 3 workshops (see What's On page to book), led by Caroline Gilfillan, an experienced creative writing tutor and published author who is based in Ulverston.
Caroline has taught creative writing for Lancaster University, the University of East Anglia, and the Open University, and has run community workshops for many groups. Her short stories and poems have won national prizes and been published in magazines including Mslexia and The London Magazine. She’s published four collections of poetry, and works as a mentor to poets and novelists. She loves running workshops, particularly when there’s the opportunity to draw inspiration from the natural world. The workshops will provide lots of encouragement, writing prompts and plenty of opportunity to write in prose, poetry or any other form. No prior writing experience required and will suit all levels of experience. We hope to do an informal celebration reading evening and publish a pamphlet of work in late Autumn to celebrate our creativity. Go to What's On to book onto the workshops.
2. Connecting with the Natural Landscape
A creative arts programme for disadvantaged young people.
Preparations for working with our partner the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) are well underway. The core of the project is to bring and connect disadvantaged young people to the countryside with the aim to enhance their appreciation and understanding of the natural world. In experiencing the natural landscape, the young people will co-create multi-media artistic and digital artefacts in response. Our role is to support access to the countryside of the Rusland Valley and to help both with interpretation of nature within the valley and the development of creative materials with the young people.
We are keen to have lots of local involvement in this special project and would very much welcome support from the community. If you are interested in any aspect, including collaboration with the young people in the artistic output we’d love to hear from you at hello@ruslandhorizonstrust.org.