Published: 21/01/2020
A MAJOR art programme for Copeland is to include a nationally-significant piece of public art.
Copeland Council has appointed curators Aldo Rinaldi and Deborah Smith to develop art projects for the Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast (CCHC) scheme. The Hidden Coast will create a ‘challenge route’ between Whitehaven and Millom, incorporating events, artworks, attractions and activities.
The art curators will invite communities to get involved in developing a series of remarkable artworks along the 40-mile stretch of coast, responding to the spectacular landscapes. This part of the Hidden Coast project is being funded by the Coastal Communities Fund and Sellafield Ltd.
It will include securing a nationally-significant artwork for the borough, developed with world class artists. The piece will be influenced by the dynamic landscapes and natural beauty of the coast and the western Lake District fells.
Deborah Smith said: “We will engage with communities and stakeholders over the coming year to develop the programme in collaboration with the Hidden Coast Steering Group. This will include events where the public can get involved and influence the project.”
The first community events are:
- Monday February 3: The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven from 2pm until 4pm
- Tuesday February 4: Haverigg Lighthouse from 7pm until 9pm
Residents are invited to come along, ask questions and contribute their views. Further events are planned.
Copeland’s Director of Growth and Inclusive Communities, Julie Betteridge, said: “We are thrilled we have received funding for this unique project. It is an exciting opportunity to develop and diversify the economy, and in doing so, connect our coast to the Lake District National Park. The project will not only create a physical challenge route, but will enable people to explore Copeland’s art, culture and heritage using the natural environment. It will also provide improved footpaths and cyclepaths, giving residents a sustainable way to travel for work or pleasure.”
Aldo Rinaldi added: “We are delighted to have been appointed to curate this project for Copeland and its spectacular landscape. We are looking forward to working with the project team and communities to develop a vision and bring artists here to generate new ideas. The programme will also play a role in the creation of new attractions and activities, contribute to tourism, and enhance the cultural and artistic offer for locals and visitors. It is an opportunity for Copeland residents to be involved in and inspired by their cultural heritage through the eyes of artists."
The Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast project has attracted more than £1m from the Government's Coastal Communities Fund and Sellafield Ltd is contributing £600,000 towards the scheme, which includes wider improvements and capital projects including a new café hub at Silecroft Beach, a climbing wall at Muncaster Castle, 1.4km of new cycle path and 1.8km of new and improved footpaths.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Connecting Copeland’s Hidden Coast Art Programme:
The art programme is part of an innovative and ambitious coastal improvement project from Whitehaven to Millom - Connecting Copeland’s Hidden Coast. The project is led by Copeland Council, and received just over £1m from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund and £605,000 from Sellafield Ltd, with further partner support from Cumbria County Council, Natural England, Muncaster Castle and the Western Lake District and Coast Partnership. The art programme comprises a public art commission for the coast, work towards a major landmark artwork of national significance for the borough, and a public art strategy for Copeland. The project will enable people to explore Copeland’s art, culture and heritage using the natural environment and to create links between the coast and the Lake District National Park.
Coastal Communities Fund
The government’s Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) supports the economic transformation of UK coastal communities by funding the creation of sustainable economic growth and jobs. Since 2012, the government’s CCF has awarded grants to 295 projects across the UK, totalling over £174 million.
Community engagement events:
- February 3: Whitehaven (Beacon Museum), 2-4pm.
- February 4: Haverigg Lighthouse, 7-9pm.
For further information on these events please contact Eric Barker, Coastal Programme Officer at Copeland Borough Council on 07876 392494 or Eric.barker@copeland.gov.uk
About the curatorial team
“Deborah Smith has worked as a curator for over two decades. Through exploring different strategies for collaboration and the presentation of interdisciplinary practices she continues to deliver exhibitions alongside large-scale commissions, residencies, conferences and publications, interwoven with programmes of learning, engagement and interpretation. She has developed projects in galleries and in the public realm with internationally respected organisations such as Hayward Touring, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Camden Arts Centre, Chapter, and the Contemporary Art Society. Recently Curator, Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme at Birmingham Museums Trust and Head of Programmes (Interim) at the Serpentine Galleries. Currently continuing her work with Arup (global company of engineers, architects and planners), and curating exhibitions with Chapter, Cardiff, and with Invisible Dust at Herbert Museum & Art Gallery / City of Coventry 2021. Smith is an elected board member of IKT Association of Contemporary Art Curators (2017-2019) and a steering group member of Intoarts (disability studio practice).”
“Aldo Rinaldi is a curator and producer with a special focus on commissioning artworks for the public realm. He has almost 20 years’ experience and has produced over 50 projects for a diverse range of settings with a combined value of over £10m. He has produced commissioned works by artists from the UK and further afield including Nils Norman (UK), Simon and Tom Bloor (UK), Mark Titchner (UK), N55 (Denmark), MUF architecture/art, (UK), Tue Greenfort (Denmark), Sabine Hornig (Germany), Oscar Tuazon (USA), Richard Long (UK) and Turner Prize winners Assemble. He commissioned ‘Seeds of Change: A Floating Ballast Seed Garden’ with Maria Thereza Alves (Brazil), Arnolfini, and Bristol and the University of Bristol Botanic Garden which culminated in the artist winning the Vera List Prize for art and social change in late 2017 and completed a major commission with British artist Roger Hiorns, the same year, developed in collaboration with Stirling Prize winning architects Witherford Watson Mann. In 2019 he completed a major permanent work with artist Idris Khan for London’s South Bank. Aldo has also curated a number of exhibitions including Fourthland (Arnolfini, Bristol, 2015), Katie Paterson (Mead Gallery, Coventry, 2013) with Filipa Oliveira, MADE IN, Guimaraes, Portugal (2013) - commissioned as part of the Art and Architecture component of Guimaraes European Capital of Culture; and Yonamine & Charlotte Moth (Mews, London, 2012). Publications include ‘The Cascading Garden Handbook’, (2015), ‘Made In’ (2013), and ‘Raffaela Mariniello’ Ffotogallery Publishing, 2005.”
