Category: Arts & Culture

Surprising Surrey is a new ten-year strategy developed by the county’s cultural sector to champion and strengthen creativity, so that by 2034 Surrey is recognised as one of the country’s most vibrant cultural counties.

Surrey Hills Arts, part of the Surrey Hills National Landscape Family, welcomes Surrey’s new Cultural Strategy which shares our aims of improving wellbeing, removing barriers to creative experiences, developing practitioners and being ambitious in delivering high-quality art. We see ‘Surprising Surrey’ as a catalyst to attract external investment and increase opportunity for all.

Press Release from the Surrey Cultural Partnership

Created by Surrey Cultural Partnership – a collective of people working in culture and heritage in Surrey along with representatives from business, education, health, criminal justice and local government, who together share an ambition to champion Surrey as a leading cultural county – Surprising Surrey is the result of research and extensive consultation with the county’s cultural organisations, practitioners and stakeholders over a two-year period.  This identified an urgent need to promote and expand culture in Surrey, reducing barriers and increasing investment so that many more residents and visitors are able to benefit.

Surprising Surrey: Our Cultural Strategy & Vision 2024 – 2034 is the first cultural strategy for the county to be developed by Surrey’s cultural sector. It sets out a framework and action plan with four priorities:

• Culture for Everyone, to increase access to culture for all, with a specific focus on reaching residents who encounter physical, social and economic barriers
• Resilient Communities, recognising the role of creative encounters in strengthening communities and in supporting health and wellbeing programmes
• County-wide Ecology and Infrastructure, encouraging collaborative working and ensuring that creative workspaces are integral to sustainable planning and regeneration schemes
• Creativity as Enterprise, to nurture the creative economy in Surrey by attracting new business and investment

At a special launch event at The Horton Arts Centre, Epsom, Surrey Cultural Partnership announced a series of initiatives to deliver the strategy, including:

• The development of a new Culture Fund in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS).  Research co-commissioned by Surrey Cultural Partnership and CFS identified that Surrey is significantly underfunded by national grantmakers and, given the financial crises facing a number of the county’s borough and district councils, local authority funding is under threat. The new fund will support improved quality of life and wellbeing for the most disadvantaged communities in Surrey by reducing barriers to transformative creative experiences.
• The introduction of a Cultural Skills Bank and Volunteer Bank.  95% of UK arts organisations have less than nine employees[i]. The majority do not have all the required skills ‘in-house’ and they are reliant on time and expertise given by volunteers.   These Banks will facilitate collaboration and will strengthen the sector.
• A new programme of youth-led activity to give young people a voice and to nurture creative leaders for the future.  Consultation with young people and education providers revealed county-wide dissatisfaction with the lack of information and support available to enter creative careers.  Amongst the initiatives will be encouraging increased youth representation at board level and establishing clear development pathways in the cultural sector.

Commenting, Perdita Hunt and Gavin Stride, Co-Chairs, Surrey Cultural Partnership, said:

“Surprising Surrey is about championing what is already happening here, recognising that the county has much to celebrate.  But as we know and despite its reputation for affluence and privilege, Surrey has areas of deprivation and marginalisation that need addressing. This strategy is a response to those needs.  It is a rallying cry to all those who believe in the power and the impact of the arts in changing lives in our county.”

Marilyn Scott, author of Surprising Surrey, said:

“During the extensive consultations over the last year some very clear messages came through – the need for better collaboration, networking and sharing of expertise; the importance of placemaking and the enormous contribution culture can make, the value of cultural activity to health and wellbeing in our communities, and of course the need for better support and funding. I hope all of these messages are reflected in the strategy and clear actions that Surrey Cultural Partnership will encourage.”

Dr Rebecca Bowden, Chief Executive, Community Foundation for Surrey, said:

“Our research into the current funding landscape for Surrey makes sobering reading. It is clear that for too long our county has been overlooked by a number of national funders. What is also clear though is the huge variety and vibrancy of the arts and culture sector in Surrey and we believe that there is therefore huge potential to come together to develop a new fund – by and for the sector.”

Sir Vernon Ellis, Chair of New Philanthropy for Arts and Culture (NPAC), said:

“This excellent report underlines the importance of investment in the cultural sector.  This will require support from the local community (business, trusts and individuals) as well as from the public purse.”

“Our work at NPAC has shown that there is a real opportunity to raise new philanthropy for the arts on the back of the impact that the arts can make on health, wellbeing, education, and the community. This is best realised by heightening a commitment to place (which this report will do) and providing a framework to attract and funnel financial support (which the new fund will provide).”

Saj Hussain, Chair, Surrey County Council, said:

“We welcome the launch of the cultural strategy and the work of Surrey Cultural Partnership, which is helping towards our vision of Surrey as a vibrant home of creativity.  We look forward to continuing to work together.”

About Surrey Cultural Partnership

Surrey Cultural Partnership is working to ensure that everyone in Surrey has the opportunity to participate in, engage with and contribute to extraordinary cultural activity, whoever they are and wherever they live.

Introduced in 2022 as a result of work undertaken by the Surrey Lieutenancy’s Arts & Culture Focus Group, Surrey Cultural Partnership was established to facilitate collaboration, to develop a cultural strategy and to identify opportunities for new investment.

Surrey Cultural Partnership is grateful to Farnham Maltings, The Borrows Charitable Trust, Surrey County Council and Andrew Wates OBE, DL for supporting an initial two-year development period.

To download the strategy: surreyculturalpartnership.com

WONDERDUSK

A community celebration of the Surrey Hills landscape and woodlands

Dates/times: Saturday 16 September main event from 6.30pm

Address: National Trust Box Hill, Tadworth Lane, KT20 7LB

Cost: Free

Wander through the woodlands at Box Hill and be immersed in creative ‘happenings’ showcasing the majesty of the trees. You will be guided along the accessible woodland path and discover creative responses to the theme of ‘Trees’. Expect puppetry, choirs, art installations, theatre, dance, and poetry to inspire you. As darkness falls there will be the opportunity to participate in an awe-inspiring murmuration movement piece. This will involve bird puppets made in one of the local workshops which will then be laid to rest, finishing with a minute silence celebrating the natural heritage of our Dark Skies.

WonderDusk (previously known as Harvest) is an annual partnership celebratory event between Surrey Hills Arts and National Trust. The inclusive, community celebration, connects people through the arts and the landscape. In collaboration with Freewheelers Theatre, the event will be a magical promenade at National Trust Box Hill and the surrounding woodlands.

Ali Clarke, Surrey Hills Arts Programme Manager said “WonderDusk is a joyful event that brings people together to celebrate nature creatively. The evening includes a unique opportunity to participate in the event whether it’s carrying a bird puppet, joining in song, or making a print.”

There is also a pre-event from 5.30pm which is open to all to participate in an art workshop and visit stands with a focus on the Surrey Hills and its special wildlife.

The team at Freewheelers said, “We are excited to be working with other groups in our community and challenging ourselves in our first outdoors performance.”

Find out more about how you can get involved in WonderDusk and book your free tickets here.

A 7-screen video installation at West Horsley Place created and directed by Roswitha Chesher and Rosemary Lee

Dates/times: 29 July – 2 November.

See Orchard Portraits when you visit the Manor House for a tour, Open Day or other event. Or- see it on Thursday afternoons from 2pm-5pm for FREE.  

Address: West Horsley Place, Epsom Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT24 6AN

Choreographer Rosemary Lee brings her unique sensibilities to both landscape and people to create a new video-work made collaboratively with filmmaker Roswitha Chesher – inspired by and shot in the historic wild orchard at West Horsley Place.

Filmed over a year through the four seasons, ORCHARD PORTRAITS features five senior performers, each in a meditative and elegant duet with their chosen ageing tree.  As human and tree become entwined almost as one, there is a sense of deep unity seeming to pay tribute to humanity’s ancient and ongoing intimate relationship with trees. In contrast we are reminded of natures’ cycles of regeneration as 60 school children burst through the orchard in moments of joy and discovery.

Bringing the beauty of outside in, this seven-screen video installation will inhabit the stone hall of West Horsley Place throughout the summer/autumn of 2023.

Performers:  Nancy Budd, Violet Clare, Andrew Hamel-Cooke, Jim Tucker and Helen Scalway.

Year 5/6(2022) from The Raleigh School, West Horsley, Surrey.

Original concept and Choreography: Rosemary Lee

Director of Photography: Roswitha Chesher

Editing: Roswitha Chesher with Rosemary Lee

Costumes: Susan Dinmore

For the installation:

Production Manager: Steve Wald

Synchronised Playback System: Rob Prouse

Installation Construction: Richard Rudnicki

Produced by Ali Clarke Surrey Hills Arts with Nicky Childs Artsadmin

Supported by Arts Council England, Arts Partnership Surrey and the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

Special thanks to Matt Link, Clare Clinton and the team at West Horsley Place, Katie Green, Julie Gilbert, Jan Alderman, Douglas Murray.

www.surreyhillsarts.org/orchard-portraits-video-installation

A TRAIL OF TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS AT RSPB FARNHAM HEATH.

23 JUNE – 29 OCTOBER. FREE.

Heathland Artworks is an annual trail around RSPB Farnham Heath to view site responsive works by students from the University for the Creative Arts. From June to October each year, you can view imaginative and experimental installations from metalwork, fine art, product design, ceramic and glass students.

The project aims to give participating students a full understanding of working on a real project. They receive a lecture and guidance on putting together a proposal to submit to a commissioner. They go on a site visit and learn about the flora and fauna of that location from the RSPB warden. Then, they carry out their research into their area of interest whether this is the bird species, the geology or history of the place. After working up drawings, technical drawings and maquettes, the students then present their proposals before a selection panel. Those selected go on to build and install the pieces on the heathland.

Heathland Artworks is a celebration of Farnham Heath. It offers a different perspective on this special landscape while informing and inspiring visitors to engage at a deeper level.

Find out more about this year’s trail here.

HABITAT to be showcased at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show

The Royal Horticultural Society were impressed by the HABITAT project run by Surrey Hills Arts on campus at the University of Surrey last year. They invited us to exhibit the sculptural habitats in the Go Wild Area at the festival recognising that ‘the project shares a lot of similarities to the RHS’s ethos and work across communities, science, education and art.’  The artists involved research specific species and create an artwork to attract and support them. The artworks animate the space while increasing biodiversity and engage the viewer to learn more through QR codes.

The Reclaim network, who aim to ‘turn cities from vulnerable spaces to healthy places for people’ have also noticed the HABITAT project and are sponsoring two new works for the festival as well as talks and workshops at their conference later in the year.

This is really positive progress for the project which we hope to role out in other urban areas across Surrey in the next few years working with communities to improve wellbeing and local biodiversity.

To find out more about the HABITAT project, see www.surreyhillsarts.org/habitat

The RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival runs from 4^th – 9^th July, more info: www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events

Surrey Hills Arts unveils this year’s Heathland Artworks at RSPB Farnham Heath, an annual event running until 30 October. The Heathland Artworks trail is free and open to the public, celebrating the Surrey Hills landscape and its heritage, materials, and craft. Local emerging artists studying Craft, Fine Art, and Textiles at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have taken inspiration from the wildlife, geology and history of the heath throughout the year to develop a series of 12 temporary artworks nestled within the heathland trail.

The art trail is a unique opportunity to see the heathland in a new way. This year the artworks include ceramic built columns, miniature outdoor paintings, and thermal images of the trees. There is also a piece inspired by the historical act of turf cutting which has shaped this landscape over time. Up at the viewpoint, you can experience Walter Bailey’s House of the Invisible Hands, a Surrey Hills Arts Inspiring View.

The Heathland Artworks trail enables a deep connection to the landscape through art, and a new way to learn about the heathland habitat. The project gives invaluable experience to the artists from UCA by preparing proposals, presenting them to a panel and developing their skills to create and install the artworks. It also presents an excellent tool to promote the beauty and conservation needed to preserve the habitat for wildlife such as Grayling butterflies, Nightjars and Sand Lizards. Farnham Heath is managed by RSPB who have restored the heathland to support the native species.

It’s always exciting to see how different students are inspired by the natural environment through their art. The Heathland Artworks trail is a great way to experience the countryside in a new light and enjoy the artworks in such a special landscape.

Ali Clarke, Programme Manager for Surrey Hills Arts

Download the 2022 Heathland Artworks map here. The trail is open now until 30 October and free to visit.

Heathland Artworks is a FREE outdoor art exhibition and a wonderful opportunity to explore Farnham Heath this autumn. From 1-30 October come and discover delightful artworks all created by local emerging artists studying Craft, Fine Art and Textiles at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham. The students took inspiration from the natural beauty of the heath, exploring the wildlife, geology and history to develop a series of temporary artworks which form part of a circular art trail.

This year the trail includes artworks made from clay bricks, glass, felt, ceramic and natural materials. Glass MA Student Pratibha Mistry is interested in the unseen root architecture beneath our feet on the heath. She visualises these important underground foundations on glass panels mounted on tree trunks. Ana Maria Lopes creates simple ceramic bird forms that seem to flock and hover over the heather. For the first time an MA Contemporary Jewellery student, Yume Tanaka, has taken part and focused on the unexplainable feelings she experienced on her walks around the heath creating tiny 3D printed forms which she then felted.

Heathland Artworks provides a new way to view and learn about the heath and forms part of Farnham Craft Month, a month-long celebration of craft showcasing new talent and local craft businesses across Farnham and the surrounding area.

Ali Clarke, Programme Coordinator for Surrey Hills Arts comments;
“It is always a joy seeing how students use different crafts to respond to the heathland. This year feels an even more important time to be able to experience art outdoors, to celebrate our treasured landscapes and be part of Craft Month as Farnham is declared a World Craft City.”
Heathland Artworks is free of charge and open to visitors from 1st-30th October. Parking is available at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford, during opening hours.

Download the Heathland Artworks trail map to show you where the artworks are located as well as detail about each one; https://www.surreyhillsarts.org/heathland-artworks-trail/