The search is on for a creative artist to capture the journey of restoring peatlands at a site covering large areas in the north of England.
This is part of WaterLANDS – an ambitious project which aims restore wetlands damaged by human activity – and is recruiting artists for six Action Sites throughout Europe.
Artists from all disciplines are urged to apply and the UK artist will work on a part-time basis with the restoration team at the Great North Bog site. Their role will be to reflect the ongoing restoration at the site as well as the social processes involved by interacting with relevant stakeholders and communities.
At the project’s final event in 2026 there will be an exhibition at which will include contributions from the six artists in varied formats.
The Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP), run by water@leeds based at University of Leeds is a key research partner in the European project which will support communities involved in the restoration of peatlands. The project builds on the collaborative iCASP approach, initially funded through the Natural Environment Research Council.
Richard Grayson, WaterLANDS Action Site Coordinator and iCASP Impact Translation Fellow, said: “This is an exciting and unique project. We are looking for an artist to reflect on the journey of this particular site, engage communities, increase awareness of the importance of restoration and help to create and share knowledge across the project and beyond.”
Professor Joseph Holden, director of iCASP and water@leeds, said: “Peatland has a vital role in our ecosystems from storing carbon, improving water quality to reducing flood risk and supporting biodiversity – and we must do all we can to protect and enhance them.
“Through this amazing project we will create best practice models that can be applied to peatland restoration at many other sites.
“By engaging with local communities and stakeholders, the project will ensure that wetland restoration results not only in environmental improvements, but also has recreational, well-being and economic benefits for the communities involved.”
Professor Julia Martin-Ortega, social sciences project lead for water@leeds at University of Leeds, said: “Wewant art to be an integral part of creating and reflecting cultural renewal brought about by restoration.
“We see art and science as complementary disciplines, both driven by curiosity and enquiry. They can provide different perspectives on restoration and give rise to unique collaborations.”
The Great North Bog represents around 92 percent of the upland peat in England and includes four National Parks, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the proposed South Pennines Park. The site represents a significant opportunity to implement the peatland restoration objectives in the 25 Year Environment Plan.
Deadline for applications is 13 January 2023. The artistic engagement residency will be for around one month annually for three years, and then three months in the final year from 2022 to 2026). For full details of the role and how to apply visit https://waterlands.eu/news-and-events/artists-uk/
For any questions email icasp@leeds.ac.uk
Notes for editors
About WaterLANDS
- WaterLANDS (Water-based solutions for carbon storage, people and wilderness) is a €23.6 million, five year EU Green Deal funded project that aims to restore wetland sites across Europe. The project will use lessons learned from ongoing and existing restoration at 15 ‘Knowledge Sites’ across Europe to inform hands-on peatland restoration at six ‘Action Sites’ in the UK, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.
It is led by University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland and brings together 31 other organisations from research, industry, government and non-profit sectors in 14 European countries.
Europe has already lost up to 90% of its original wetlands, resulting in massive biodiversity loss, water and food shortages, devastating floods and fires, coastal subsidence and erosion. The largescale, integrated approach developed in WaterLANDS will address these challenges to ensure the resilience and health of both wetland habitats and the communities who rely on them. Project website www.waterlands.eu
- The Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) is a six-year programme based at University of Leeds funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. It uses existing environmental science to address catchment management problems. Projects are co-designed by academics from Leeds, Sheffield, York and Newcastle Universities working in partnership with experts from organisations such as local authorities, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, the Met Office, voluntary groups such as the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and many others.
Visit https://icasp.org.uk/ or for more details about iCASP Peat projects https://icasp.org.uk/projects-2-2/
- About The Great North Bog Visit https://greatnorthbog.org.uk/
