Lakes Ignite 2018, The Lake District National Park

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
Lakes Ignite 2018, The Lake District National Park
Ben Barden

10 January — 31 July 2018 Entrance is free

Up North, we’re kind of spoilt when it comes to nature (among much else). After all, there’s England’s largest National Park – The Lake District – sat just on our doorstep; brimming with beauty, the old stomping-ground of Wordsworth, Coleridge et al., and (as of July 2017) a World Heritage Site to boot. But in case you needed any more convincing to dust of your walking shoes and jump on a train, there’s also a region-wide programme of brand-new contemporary art commissions to check out this spring/summer as part of Lakes Ignite 2018.

Spanning performance, sculpture and virtual reality, the six diverse artworks all respond to the Lake District’s rich cultural landscape (for which the World Heritage status was awarded) in different ways, inviting a fresh perspective on the world around us.

Among the commissions currently open to the public, Michael Shaw’s Slung takes the form of a large, fluorescent pink and orange striped inflatable at Mountain Hall arts space in Rheged, which carries a mild flavour of Dr Seuss, and hints of the Cheshire cat. Brian and George Fell’s Arctic Char at The Ambleside Salutation Hotel is a father-son collaboration depicting a shoal of Arctic Char (a type of fish that has resided in the Lakes since the Ice Age). The Ordinance Pavilion by Liverpool/London based art, architecture and design collective Studio MUTT at Wainwrights’ Inn (Great Langdale) is an interactive, semi-inhabitable sculpture that explores the impact that mapping has had on our human and cultural interaction with the landscape. And Charlie Whinney’ Mountains We Made at Grizedale Forest entwines ten steam bent sections of sustainably sourced oak.

Of the works open from May onwards, we’re looking forward to peering through Di Mainstone’s large, tessellated funnel; Time Mirror at Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House (overlooking Lake Windermere), which will provide an abstract, experimental view of the Lakes. And encountering The Buried Moon by The Strange Names Collective at The University of Cumbria (Ambleside); a three-part, multi-disciplinary project that will use VR, drone footage and performance to dig deep into the mysterious interior of the earth.

As diverse as the six works may seem, all are united around a shared interest in three core themes: How our past interactions with the Lakes have shaped the way we view it today; how the region has inspired, and continues to inspire, artists, writers and visitors; and lastly, the importance of conserving this great landscape for generations to come.

Note: the six commissions are each located across six different venues – Rheged; Langdale Estates; Ambleside Salutation Hotel and Spa; University of Cumbria, Ambleside campus; Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House; and Grizedale Forest. 

10 January — 31 July 2018 Entrance is free

Where to go near Lakes Ignite 2018, The Lake District National Park

Manchester
Restaurant
Fairfield Social Club

Launching in spring 2024, Fairfield Social Club is a multi-purpose site next to Angel Meadows Park in the Green Quarter.

Cumbria
Theatre
The Coro

Nestled in the heart of Ulverston, a rural market town on the fringes of the Lake District, stands The Coro —an esteemed historic hub for arts, culture, and entertainment

Cumbria
Shop
Sam Read Bookseller

Award-winning small bookshop in the Lake District. Est. by Sam Read in 1887. Run by Will Smith and Polly Atkin.

Restaurant
Capri

Capri serves up homely, family-style Italian food in North Yorkshire.

Manchester
Restaurant
Manchester Wine Tours

Manchester Wine Tours is a relaxed, fun wine tour, taking in four or five venues across three hours, plus six high-quality glasses of wine.

Sheffield
Shop
Juno Books

Friendly local queer and intersectional feminist bookshop in Sheffield. Visit for interesting fiction and non fiction books.

Restaurant
The Dusty Miller

Family friendly pub situated in the beautiful village of Mytholmroyd.

Winckley Square
Lancashire
Park
Winckley Square

Hosting a variety of year-round events, from guided walks to jazz evenings, Winckley Square is a Georgian square packed with history in Preston city centre.

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Find out how the first tourists to the Lake District (a time before mobile phones, specialist clothing and TripAdvisor reviews) experienced the area, in this fascinating new exhibition.

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