On 10 September 2024, National Landscapes announce the commissioned artists and writers for Nature Calling, a £2M ground-breaking national art programme funded by Arts Council England and Defra (first announced in April earlier this year).
Co-delivered with Activate Performing Arts (OAUK members) as executive creative producers and working with writers, musicians, visual artists and theatre-makers, Nature Calling aims to inspire new communities across England to connect with National Landscapes, increasing people’s access to nature, improving their wellbeing and inspiring a sense of belonging in these special places.
Who are the Commissioned Artists and Writers?
The following writers and artists have been commissioned to explore and celebrate nature and our National Landscapes (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONBs) and they will all begin work on their chosen projects that culminates in a Season of art between May and October 2025. Find out more about ther artists and their projects here.
Dorset – Writer Louisa Adjoa Parker and Artist Becca Gill;
Chilterns – Poet Lee Nelson and Artist Matthew Rosier;
Forest of Bowland – Writer/Rapper OneDa and Artist Rob St John;
Lincolnshire Wolds – Poet Ayesha Chouglay and Artists INSTAR Weareinstar, Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys;
Mendip Hills – a collaborative commission with the writer Gwyneth Herbert, sound artist Jason Singh and nature documentary maker Chris Howard, produced by Sound UK;
Surrey Hills – Writer/Rapper Still Shadey and Artists David Blandy & Daniel Locke.
About National Landscapes
National Landscapes are the UK’s nearby countryside
- 66% of people in England (44 million) live within 30 minutes of a National Landscape
- Over 1 million people live within them.
- At least 170 million people visit every year.
Kate Wood, Executive and Artistic Director for Activate Performing Arts said:
‘We have worked with our partners across the country to select a really diverse range of extraordinary writers, musicians and artists. We are thrilled with their ideas for Nature Calling and look forward to working with them and the communities in all the locations.’
Read more about the Nature Calling commission, and Activate Performing Arts’ involvement, here.
