Way of the Roses - Public Art Methodology and Activity Report on work undertaken to date

Introduction

This section details the work undertaken by Matt Baker (hereafter ‘I’) and Cathy Newbery to deliver the Way of the Roses Public Art Brief.

This spans from July 2010 - December 2010.

The purpose of this process was to create a framework concept for an overall artwork for the Way of the Roses that met the aims of the brief and:

• had sufficient detail of individual artworks to give the partners confidence in moving forward with the project *an overall artwork for the route that is made up of a range of individual pieces of artwork • proposed a realistic programme and method of implementation • kept all project partners informed and involved at all stages of the process

Visiting the Partners on Home Territory

August - for 2 days..Community Engagement Team, Council Engineers, Cycling Team, briefing

September - for 3 days..Rennaissance Team, Town Improvement Forum, Local Councillors, Shoreline Management

September - LEADER co-operation event (Burton Agnes)....Dales LEADER and CWWW LEADER, Local Action Groups, Heritage, Land Management

Studio Research

Research into long distance cycle routes, mapping, landscape processes, pilgrimage, ancestral routes - and foolowing up on detailed information contributed by partners on specific local characteristics etc

Methodology and Activity Cultural Mapping

As part of the research process for the Public Art project Cathy Newbery was commissioed to carry out a Cultural Mapping across the length of the route. The detailed findings of this survey are covered elsewhere and integrated into the Implementation strategy proposed in scetion 4 of this document. However, the main themes of the Cultural Mapping are outlined here as they were a formative part of the overall research process:

The Way of the Roses route has a lot to offer culturally as part of a journey with festivals and events, architecture, heritage and interesting places for rest points. Audit of the cultural activities shows the following:

Types of activity: Agricultural Show, Architecture, Arts, Open Studios, Bird Watching, Literature Festivals, Heritage, House & Gardens, Carnival, Christmas Markets, Gallery, Cycling, Dance, Food/Drink Festivals, Public Art, Performance, Music, Nature, Museums, Light Installation, Kite Festival, Scarecrow Festival and specialist shops.

There are strands of activity that could be marketed together for specialist trips.

There is a significant visual art offer, public art and Open Studios across the route where users can meet artists in their workshops.

Performance is a strong strand with venues and festivals showcasing specialist, popularist, historical and contemporary events.

Twenty seven Heritage places to visit.

Alternative/folk history trip e.g. Smallest art gallery Settle, Sanctuary & Wakeman Hornblower at , Mystery Plays & processions Agricultural Shows, Kite Festivals in Morecambe and .

Geographical areas have specialties e.g. Dales has a vast amount of archeological finds and natural attractions, has lots of museums and festivals, the coasts have offbeat festivals e.g. comedy.

To maximize the ‘cultural-offer’ methods of extracting/linking information from the various tourism sites along the route would provide a good method for keeping information up to date and will be explored in the next phase. Venues and programmes are maybe interested in joint promotions and linking more with the route.

Methodology and Activity Emerging Themes

By mid September the following themes for the artwork were emerging:

- Old or ‘special’ routes ….pilgrimage (St John of Bridlington, Pilgrimage of Grace), migra�on (), Carlisle-Se�le railway, York Mystery Plays

- Different material quali�es of landscape – shi�ing silt and mud, dry chalk valleys, hard rock …quarried and transported

- ac�vi�es that celebrate uniqueness – local markets, customs. Fes�vals….souvenirs and relics

- the processes that have shaped the land eg farming and how these ac�vi�es are changing in our modern era

Methodology and Activity A Research Journey

At the Partners Meeting in Burton Agnes on 22nd September I proposed undertaking the following research journey by a combination of car and bicycle:

On the journey I proposed meeting and interviewing as many local people and stakeholders in the cycle route as possible

Methodology and Activity Partners Call to Stakeholders

The postcard below was circulated in hard copy and electronically as widely as possible by project partners to potential stakeholders, in addition, I followed through on potential leads thrown up by studio research.

Way of the Roses - Public Art What I would like to build an understanding of in your area: Matt Baker [email protected] u structure of landscape - geologists, 01387 740680 walkers, farmers, 07855 957 401 uhistory of the place - big stories and small ones Upper McCubbington Auldgirth uculture of the area - creativity in Dumfries all forms, but particularly from the grassroots DG2 0JX ufunding opportunities for partnerships that could support and arts initiative making a connection between local culture and a new National leisure cycle route www.mattbaker.org.uk

Methodology and Activity Methodology and Activity q 5 1 10. Nidderdale landscape 9. Limekiln-Nidderdale 8. Quarryincline-Pately Bridge 7. Firstfarmin Yorkshire 6. Countybordercrossing, - Yorkshire 5. DrystoneWalling 4. Mealoffer-Morecambe 3. Fishingslipway-Morecambe 2. Sunset-Promenade, Morecambe 1. Start/Finishpoint-Morecambe start 2 6 3 8 7 9 4 10

Travelling the Way of the Roses

a general flavour - more detail later 13 14 12

11 15 16 17

18 19 20 21

11. standing stones - 15. Green Lanes - Wolds 19. Watching football in 3D - Bridlington 12. 16. Archaeological farm finds 20. Old Flanborough Lighthouse 13. Notice of stolen Maypole 17. Dew Pond - Wolds 21. Start/Finish - Bridlington 14. Victorian vagrant routes 18. Bridlington Priory finishp Methodology and Activity Meeting People - Researching the Route Through Discussion

The people I met and talked with in detail along my research journey are listed on the folowing 2 pages: (casual/chance chats with people along the way are not listed)

Susan Baxter Baxter’s Potted Shrimps Morecambe Mark Smith Baxter’s Potted Shrimps Morecambe Richard Hammond Lancaster City Council Morecambe Rachel Dyer Lancaster City Council Morecambe Michelle Cooper Maritime Museum Lancaster Sarah Hall Ludus Dance Lancaster Jaqueline Greaves Ludus Dance Lancaster Cedric Robinson Queens Guide – Kent Sands Grange over Sands Richard Storton RSPB – Futurescapes Morecambe Bay Dr Suzana Ilic Lancaster University Morecambe Bay Prof. Harry Pinkerton Lancaster University Craven Fault Alison Clough Pioneer Projects/Looking Well Dunsop Bridge Cathy Hopely Forest of Bowland ANOB Dunsop Bridge Martin Charlesworth Forest of Bowland ANOB Clapham Catherine Johnson Craven Council –Arts Clapham Andrew Laycock Craven Council – Devt Clapham Rima Berry Dales LEADER Clapham Dave Tayler YDMT – director Clapham Don Gamble YDMT – heritage projects Clapham Judy Rogers People in the Dales Clapham Christa Perry Hay Time Clapham Tanya St Pierre Flowers of the Dales Pately Bridge Chris Henderson Mayor Pately Bridge Prue Kegwin Dales LAG Pately Bridge Katy Penn Nidderdale ANOB Pately Bridge Sam ? Artist + Cyclist Pately Bridge Biddy Noakes Artist + organiser Pately Bridge Jim Moulton Yorevision Cycle Group Boroughbridge

Methodology and Activity Jane Barber Yorevision - Chair Boroughbridge Geoff Craggs Businessman and historian Boroughbridge Tessa Goldsmith Education Officer – Fountains Fountains Abbey Alexa Morton Marketing – Fountains Fountains Abbey Natalie McCaul Curator of Archaeology York Museum Nial Adams East Riding Museums /Wolds Graham Ward Wolds LAG Wetwang Jo Huntley Artist + historian Wetwang Alex ? Artist Wetwang Kay West Former Mayor Hilary Angle Artist – East Riding Artists Pocklington Sue Douthwaite Women’s Institute Pocklington Jo Green History Society and Gateway Pocklington Martin Cooper Mayor Pocklington Phil Gilbank Historian Pocklington Grahame Hicks Gateway – Chair Pocklington Paul Moon Photographer Pocklington John Brown Gateway and LAG Pocklington Helen Jackson Bridlington Rennaissance Bridlington Jim Coleman Farmer Burton Fleming (Wolds) Jane Coleman Farmer Burton Fleming (Wolds) Steve Race RSPB…HLF Bempton Barbara Mavis Bridlington Priory Bridlington Anthony Halford Bridlington Priory (email) Bridlington Bridlington Town Improvement Forum (8) Bridlington Maureen Bell TIF Bridlington Steven Carvill Artist Bridlington Martin Burnhill Seafront manager Bridlington Liz Philpot Bridlington Rennaissance Bridlington Richard Burton Town Councillor and ACE Bridlington Denise Cowling Bridlington Rennaissance Bridlington Nigel Atkinson Bridlington Rennaissance Bridlington

Methodology and Activity Meeting People - Researching the Route Through Discussion 2

I invited the people I met to speak some lines connected with ‘roses’ and ‘routes’ (illustrated below) into a voice recorder. I have more than 50 recordings as a record of my journey. I hope to make a work from these recordings as part of the overall project.

Methodology and Activity Research Conclusions

Everything in this document is part and parcel of an artistic process, as such some of the ‘research conclusions’ are best presented in the form of the artwork proposals contained in section 3. Design.

Presented here are my conclusions relating specifically to the overall identity of the Way of the Roses cycle route.

One the reasons for choosing the name ‘Way of the Roses’ was to reference the and the red and white roses that are the county crests of Lancashire and Yorkshire. My findings on these specifically were:

• Concept of the War of the Roses had little or no relevance to people on the route

• I was told directly by both Lancaster and York museums that they held no material on the War of the Roses as it had been predominantly conducted outside the counties of Yorkshire and Lancaster

• Whilst the local sense of place surrounding ‘Lancashire’ and ‘Yorkshire’ is very present – the fact that the route crosses the boundary between the counties after 20 miles of the 170 mile route means that 88% of Way of the Roses is in Yorkshire.

However, there was a recognition that ‘Way of the Roses’ does create associations with ‘History/Heritage’, ‘Old Routes’ and ‘Sense of Identity’ (Roses as something to ‘belong to’). This was futher confirmed in comparison between Way of the Roses and other long-distance cycle routes. It was pointed out to me by people familiar with other Coast to Coast routes was that the Way of the Roses was different in the fact that it passed through landscape where the activities of humans, in shaping the landscape and their own history, was very evident and ‘close to the surface’. Whereas other Coast to Coast routes passed through long stretches of apparently ‘natural’ landscape.

Methodology and Activity Research Conclusions - continued

When discussing the potential impact of an Artwork project for Way of the Roses three objectives were universally agreed by all the people that I spoke with (both cyclists and non-cyclists)

1. that the ‘artworks’ could be a means of encouraging cyclists not to ‘race’ from one side of the country to the other, but rather, to engage with the places that they are travelling in. 2. that involving local people in the conception and management of the ‘artworks’ would give cyclists access to ‘inside knowledge’ of places along the route. Also this would maximise the potential for economic and cultural exchange between cyclists and the local community. 3. that many potential users of the Way of the Roses would not be doing the whole route as a complete journey - people doing the route over a longer period of time or wanting to do short sections (eg close to where they live) might be able to use the ‘artworks’ as a structure for shorter rides.

My Personal Conclusions

Travelling the route and talking to people my awareness of the route having ‘history close to the surface’ was:

• The number of times that the Way of the Roses either crosses or coincides with paths taken through history by a vast array of people and other activities. These range from Neolithic people moving standing stones to Victorian vagrants, from Mediaeval drovers to glacial erratics, from Roman merchants to Viking armies, from Celtic cart burials to the Pilgrimage of Grace, from the exodus of non-conformist religions to the transport of quarried stone and coal.

• The way the landscape still holds marks (and people hold memories) of these movements – in particular the way that elements of the landscape have both been transformed by and shaped by these movements.

Methodology and Activity Working with these observations and the detailed narratives provided by local people I began developing an artwork concept that answers the brief to build a unique identity for Way of the Roses.. -NOT by seeking to establish it as something ‘hermetic’ that passes through a landscape (eg with consistently themed markers etc ) – but RATHER to mark the route out as a unique cultural experience OF a landscape that gives the rider insight into and awareness of others in history who have passed this way and the contemporary experience of inhabiting the land today.

I believe that the Way of the Roses could become known as a new kind of ‘Coast to Coast’ route - one that that promises an insight into the travelling history of people and landscape across the classic English Counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Methodology and Activity Design

Working with the material I had gathered, I put together a set of design proposals - the current version of these proposals can be found in section 3. Design.

Presentation, Consultation and Development 1

I had a series of development sessions with Project Manager Cathy Newbery which help shaped the detail of the designs and begin to formulate an implentation plan for the project - the current version of this plan can be found in 4. Implementation Presentation, Consultation and Development 2

Cathy Newbery and I presented the design and implementation proposals to a meeting of the wider partners in Way of the Roses in Harrogate on 10th November.

The proposals were well received and it was decided that we should:

• have two more detailed follow-up meetings, in Morecambe and in Bridlington • begin discussions with potential funding partners • draw up a report on the commission to date - suitable for use in funding and partnership negotiations in the next phase

Presentation, Consultation and Development 3

Morecambe 2nd December 10 - very successful meeting with Community Engagement team, Planners and Shoreline Engineers - plan of action agreed...see 4. Implementation.

Bridlington 9th December 10 - presentation to combined meeting of Bridlington representatives (Shorline management team, Bridlington Rennaissance - architecture + development, Town Improvement Forum and CWWW LEADER - Director + LAG representative...... very positive reception for both Bridlington proposal and Pasing Places concept. Bridlington representatives saw the artwork proposal as a potential catalyst for developing the wider landscape on the North Promenade - plan of action agreed ...see 4. Implementation.

Methodology and Activity Presentation, Consultation and Development 3 (continued)

Sustrans - December 10 - a series of phone conversations and computer presentations with Katy Hallett (Sustrans Director of Public Art)...... Katy was positive about the design approach and individual artworks, she gave useful advice about budgeting, project delivery and a structure for funding applications, in addition to useful and informed creative feedback - plan of action agreed...see 4. Implementation.

ACE - first meeting March 11 - strong synergy identified between WoR project and many ACE North aims

Steering Group-March 11 -Day of partnership working to explore forms of aggreement and delivery acroos partners along the route.

Publication of Design Document - April 11-distribution and progress updates to partners and Passing Place key contacts

ACE -Development Meeting - June 11 - very positive response to the project - useful notes for areas to devlop further

LEADER Partnership working event - June 11- a day long event organised by the Dales LEADER group to shocase the Way of the Roses project ...share working methodolgy and engage potentail partners in the next phase of the Public Art Project....a very successful day.

Ongoing development with main partners and Passing Place contacts - June/July 11 - looking at potenetial funding sources and project timeline

July - Sept 11 - using funding secured from main funders to support exploratory meetings with potential Academic and Digital Research partners. Also to further build local partnerships on the ground with community and arts groups and finally to complete the project proposal in a form for potential funding bodies

Methodology and Activity This document is the second in a set of four outlining a commission to develop a public artwork* in association with the new coast to coast cycle route ‘Way of the Roses’.

*an overall artwork for the route that is made up of a range of individual pieces of artwork

Commissioned Artist - Matt Baker www.mattbaker.org.uk Artworks Project Manager - Cathy Newbery www.cathynewbery.co.uk

July 2010 - December 2010

Project supported by: