cultural olympiad » a breath of fresh air

Breath of Fresh Air uses cultural activities to raise issues of environmental sustainability and health & well-being through the establishment of a series of cultural activities on the region’s green spaces, nature reserves, allotments, country parks, heritage sites and woodlands, placing environmental sustainability at the heart of the East Midlands’ Cultural Olympiad.

The East Midlands is unique in having a dedicated environmental strand as part of its Cultural Olympiad programme. Between 2009 and 2012 Breath of Fresh Air will:

• Improve at least 11 green spaces across the region through volunteer activity
• Offer physical, cultural and arts activities to over 40,000 people
• Provide nearly 2,500 people with the opportunity to learn new skills through volunteering
• Invest over £400,000 into regional open spaces and the programme of planned events

Artist - Chrys Allen – Pictorial scroll telling the story of a walk around the lake at Idle Valley. Artist – Jennie Pedley – Filmed shadow performance inspired by the flaura and fauna of Idle Valley.

Workshops for school groups will take place on 14th-18th March with the theme "Beneath the Surface" 

Jennie Pedley will be leading a Shadow Puppetry Workshop (creating shapes and shadows) and Chrys Allen will be leading a printmaking workshop (exploring surfaces and textures) both inspired by the waters edge at Idle Valley.

The completed film produced by Jennie and the scroll by Chrys, will be on exhibition at the Idle Valley open day June 18th.The Open Day will also include a Summer Fayre from 10am - 4pm and a BBQ & quiz from 7pm - 10pm. 

For further information click here

Artist Michael Fairfax – Camera Obsurcura inspired installation housed in existing pillbox.

There will be workshops for school groups on 23rd-27th May which will include creative drawing activities involving the delights and surprises of Camera Obscura, lead by Michael Fairfax and supported by artist Chrys Allen.

There will also be a drop in workshop on 29th May where Michael will be engaging visitors with the delights and surprises of Camera Obscura. 

The celebratory Open Day on 12th June will be a celebration of the completion of the artwork by Michael Fairfax. His  installation will involve using an existing pillbox, referencing the history of surveillance on the Lincolnshire coast and highlighting its exceptional beauty and contemplative landscape. This will be followed by further school workshops on 13th and 14th June with Michael, supported by physics student Andrew Smith and artist Chrys Allen. 

For further information click here

Artist Michael Fairfax – A site specific Camera Obscura shelter and ‘Cloud Benches’.

To coincide with BoFA open weekend on 23rd-27th July, artist Michael Fairfax will be leading participatory workhops making a camera obscura structure and a shelter from natural materials. The completed work will remain for visitors to enjoy throughout the summer.

The opening event for 'Cloud Bench' a site specific artwork by Michael Fairfax, will be on 28th July, extending the theme of observation and contemplation.

For further information click here

Artist - Chrys Allen – flags created by and then carried by the community /school groups at community intervention/social art work Artist - Grace Adam – collaborative artist book specific to Vicar Water.

Workshops for school groups and community groups through June and July. Artists Chrys Allen and Sue Barry will be facilitating creative activities making flags and banners employing words and images associated with walking at Vicar Water. 

Worshops and open evenings through 3^rd-9^th July. Artist Grace Adam will join community groups, encouraging the sharing and of gathering ideas, photos and stories which will become part of a collaborative small edition book inspired by the history and the future of Vicar Water. Ahead of producing the book there will be an exhibition of its 'originals' to coincide with the Vicar Water open day on 4th September 2011. As part of the open day the local community, visitors, walking groups and school groups will have the opportunity to take part of a spectacular participatory event. A crocodile walk around the lake displaying the flags and banners made at the workshops, this will be Vicar Water's unique social artwork.

For further information click here

Artist - Jo Fairfax – A Site specific film and zoetropes

Lighting Designer Richard Burton has been awarded funding ( a‘Cultivate’  graduate placement ) to work with Jo.

Exhibition 1st-21st August.  Artist Jo Fairfax will be showing site specific artworks in what was once the exercise area of the Horse Riding School. The zoetropes with their horse (and carriage) will slowly rotate creating their own magical worlds, a projected film will add further intrigue to the space.

An event on 6-7th August will include participatory workshops facilitated by Marcus Rowlands allowing the public to drop in and contribute to the making of vehicles referencing the carriage collection, the old smithy and the zoetrope installation.

For further information click here

Artist – Jennie Pedley – A filmed shadow performance inspired by the landscape and history of Millers Dale and the Wye Valley.

Workshops for school groups will take place between May 23^rd -27th. Walks lead by Alison Lloyd will be followed by shadow puppet workshops with artist Jennie Pedley. Taking inspiration from the landscape and history of the Wye Valley.  Silhouettes of viaducts, historic steam trains and examples of local flora and fauna will be brought to life. The children’s performances will be filmed and then shown as still or moving images at Millers Dale open day.

24th July event day to coincide with the Breath of Fresh Air Open Weekend ‘Wild Fun in the Wye Valley’. 

For more information click here

Practitioner  - Catherine Greig of make:good will be facilitating workshops for school groups using the thinnings from the woods to build shelters designed by and to be enjoyed by workshop participants, their peers and visitors to the Headstock Festival.

Works to be unveiled in time for the Headstock festival 9th-11th September

For further information click here

Practioner - Catherine Greig of make:good will be facilitating workshops for school groups through May, June and July exploring and enjoying the potential of outdoor learning. Participants will be designing and building bird boxes, periscopes and screens, essentially they will be making their ideas visible and physical.

The work produced will be celebrated as part of an event day on 13th August 2011.

Arts organisation - Theatre Writing Partnership will be creating an alternative audio guide in collaboration with volunteers inspired by the house and grounds. To be launched spring 2012. 

For more information click here

Artist - Grace Adam will be leading workshops and inviting the community to become involved with creating a collaborative book.

Artist Grace Adam will join local groups and individuals through June encouraging the sharing and of gathering ideas, photos and stories which will become part of a collaborative small edition book inspired by the history and the present

The Launch of the book will coincide with The Harvest Moon Festival 17th September 2011.

The aim of this one-day annual festival is to bring together a diverse range of members of the community and community groups in Northampton, with the purpose of celebrating diversity, whilst educating and encouraging people to change their lifestyles to become more environmentally friendly.

For further information click here