County calling creatives to make a work of art

Artists are invited to embed themselves into Cumbria's communities

Cumbria is calling for artists and poets to bring their creativity to the county.

Three people will be chosen to spend a year getting to know the area that inspired creatives like William Wordsworth and John Ruskin.

The chosen few will get £25,000 each to create a "substantial" piece of work or an event that contributes to the county's artistic community.

The brief is for ideas that respond "to modern-day Cumbria, its diverse industries, landscapes and communities".

'Under my skin'

The Catalyst project, the first of its kind in the area, will be delivered by Art Gene, in partnership with the University of Cumbria and the Cumbria Arts and Culture Network.

Maddi Nicholson, co-founder and director of Barrow's Art Gene, said the residencies represent a "fantastic" opportunity for artists.

She added: "I know because I came to the county in 1990 for a one-year residency and was so intrigued I stayed.

"Cumbria got under my skin."

Catalyst is funded by the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) in an effort to highlight the area's cultural offering.

Chief executive Jo Lappin said: "Outside of the county, people's view of Cumbria is framed by their own experience, be it the rolling hills of the Lake District, farming, our nuclear expertise at Sellafield or building submarines in Barrow.

"Cumbria is all of these things and more, and the purpose of these residencies is to promote the entirety of the county, its nature, industry and heritage by creating a great piece of art or new experience."

'Take notice'

The three chosen artists will be supported by Cumbria's network of cultural organisations.

The residencies, suitable for early or mid-career artists, will run from May until February 2025.

Dr Colette Conroy, from the university's Institute of Education, Arts and Society, said: "We welcome ideas that disrupt and inspire, make people sit up and take notice of Cumbria, or that catalyse and unlock new opportunities."