A new film documenting a collaborative project for all to enjoy and to support the careful stewardship of our river and its biodiversity, is shared.
A short film telling the story of the Riverside Walkway Revitalised project is available to view to bring attention to this wonderful riverside wellbeing space made accessible through art.
The film can be viewed on the Sidmouth School of Art project page Riverside Walkway Revitalised | Sidmouth School Of Art or on YouTube https://youtu.be/NhKAxDJaEbo
The new walkway has had new railings, bat friendly lighting, new benches and planters, new wayfinding signage, a brass rubbing trail and provides a new outdoor gallery exploring historic and contemporary themes. The new gallery features an introductory board and 11 artboards – each telling a story from Triassic to today. The stories are highlighted through art and printmaking, woven together through graphic design and each has a QR code to find out more detailed information.
The walkway is the result of nearly two years of work and a huge amount of community participation led by Artist Printmaker Emma Molony https://www.emmamolony.com
Emma led a series of print making workshops with people of all ages and commented:
“I really didn’t want to do a project where it’s one artist creating kind of a one visual response. I really love the way my printmaking has been mixed with the work that lots of other people have made.”
Richard Foord, local MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, with his role in helping to protect the environment features in the film:
“What I’m really struck by is how the collaboration is really giving people a sense of ownership. The artists involved have engaged really well with the local community and the product, the outputs – are just really beautiful to see.”
The project was informed by special advisers including Ed Dolphin, Sid Valley Biodiversity Group who commented:
“…children of course, you know it’s a cliché, they are the future, they are the guardians of our environment. If you can get children hooked in at a young age they will grow up into people who take care of the environment.”
Heritage and history information was generously provided by Nigel Hyman, Sid Vale Association and ex Curator of Sidmouth Museum said
“I am really delighted by the appearance of the boards. I think they’re extraordinary.”
All of the creative art boards and full details about the project, its development, further information about the themes: River Sid, history of the Ham, ancient coastline, heritage and
biodiversity as well as funders, collaborators and photos can be found here Riverside Walkway Revitalised | Sidmouth School Of Art
Louise Cole, Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub Director added:
We are grateful for all the input, support and knowledge that has shaped this project. From the outset we wanted to use the power of art and participation to communicate. We hope now that the film, with its positive environmental messages, will be shared widely and inspire everyone to take a stroll along the walkway to enjoy the nature, and for the artwork and stories to connect with people of all ages.”
Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and Sidmouth School of Art, working in partnership have led this project as part of our Sidmouth Makes Art (SMArt) project. SMArt consists of 7 key art initiatives across Sidmouth – a two-year public art project to develop Sidmouth people as the artists and Sidmouth as the artwork. Connecting people with their own creativity, with each other and with the space around us. https://sidmouthart.org/projects/smart-projects
The project is supported by the Arts Council England, Sidmouth Town Council and Visit Sidmouth, The Sid Vale Association – Keith Owen Fund, East Devon National Landscapes and
The Arts Society of Sidmouth.
Key partners collaborating in the project included Sidmouth In Bloom, Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, Sid Valley Memory Café, Sidmouth College and InFocus (The vision impairment and complex needs charity).
To find out more, become a supporter of arts projects in Sidmouth, collaborate or donate please visit https://sidmouthart.org/support-us
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Contact details: louise@sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org
Mobile: 07881 585395
Sidmouth School of Art is a registered charity in England and Wales (1199539)
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