Exciting new arts project coming to the Forest of Bowland

Are You Lost?, created by artist Rob St John, is part of a national initiative called Nature Calling, and seeks to understand how communities connect with the natural world around them. It aims to open up conversations about access to wild spaces and celebrate our place and responsibility in these environments.

The project, which has been running for the last ten months, is commissioned by the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, and is produced by Lancaster Arts.

Are You Lost? will culminate in a series of sound, film and textile art installations, created with the people of Bowland, exploring the voices, textures and sights of the landscape. It first opened to the public in Nelson last month as part of the Pendle Festival of Culture.

The project is now set to officially launch in Dunsop Bridge across the weekend of 2-3 August, before the finale in the heart of Gisburn Forest on 30-31 August.

Jinny’s Barn in Dunsop Bridge, a short walk from Puddleducks Tearooms, is on land owned by the Duchy of Lancaster who have supported the project, saying:

“The Duchy of Lancaster is proud to support this inspiring event in the Forest of Bowland, celebrating creativity, community, and connection to nature.”

Are You Lost? has emerged through creative workshops, walks, talks and activities with communities in and around Bowland and in particular with children and young people. Artist Rob St John recently appeared on BBC Countryfile alongside young people who have taken part in the project.

The artwork combines archival footage from the historic floods of 1967 in Dunsop Valley with recent film portraying contributors’ personal memories and feelings about Bowland. The soundscape includes sounds gathered through workshops with young people in Nelson and Burnley, alongside songs, choral improvisations and field recordings of the landscape. The textile pieces are created by Lancashire textile artist Kate O’Farrell and draw upon the history of the area, from the cotton mills of east Lancashire, to the textile traditions of Gujarat, where many of the local communities have roots.

Speaking about the project, artist Rob St John said:

“The Forest of Bowland is a rich and special place. ‘Are You Lost?’ has given me the opportunity to work with communities on the fringes of Bowland to listen to and amplify their unheard voices and perspectives on the landscape. I want to foster connections across communities and landscapes between the fringes and the centre of Bowland. Hopefully, this can help prompt the answer to the question ‘Are You Lost?’ with the answer ‘no, I belong here too’.”

Lancaster Arts Director Jocelyn Cunningham said:

“Lancaster Arts is proud to have been chosen as one of the producers for Nature Calling and we are excited by the work that Rob has created with communities in the area. It is a spectacular landscape with a rich heritage and remarkable local stories, and what better place to situate it than in a barn in Dunsop Bridge, the gateway to the Trough of Bowland. We hope this work will be familiar to those who know it well and a way in for those who have never been.”

Alongside the installation, Are You Lost? features a range of artist workshops, conversations and guided walks, open to all, to create a mini festival atmosphere and will have something for people of all ages.

In addition, composer Julian Evans, will lead a series of singing workshops and rehearsals as he gathers a new choral group, The Stonechats, who will work on an original piece of music to be performed in Gisburn Forest on 31 August as the finale to Are You Lost?

To find out more about Are You Lost? visit lancasterarts.org, where you can also listen to the Are You Lost? Podcast series to better understand the project. All the activities are free but booking is preferred. Find out more about Nature Calling and the other locations around the country that are taking part at naturecalling.org.uk.

Those wanting to get involved in the project are encouraged to get in touch about

 volunteering opportunities by emailing meg@lancasterarts.org.

Nature Calling is a national programme of cultural activity with executive producers the National Landscapes Association and Activate Performing Arts, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Are You Lost? Will be open to the public in Dunsop Bridge from 11.30am to 4pm Saturday 2 August and 11am-4pm on Sunday 3 August.