As International Women’s Day turns the focus on women making waves in arts and culture, one rural initiative is proving that, in the Lakes and Dales, they’re as likely to be based in the countryside as they are in the cities.
Artistic projects up and down the Grasmere to Skipton corridor are seeing women taking prominent and leading roles. And Great Place: Lakes and Dales (GPLD), set up almost three years ago with funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has encouraged many of them.
Using culture, the arts and heritage, GPLD aims to encourage under 35s to settle in the area which has a staggering 44% fewer 16 to 34 year olds than the national average.
Seedfundees and supported projects with women at the helm include:
Aline Costa, one of four associate artists on Ludus Dance’s ‘Occupied’ development scheme, supported by GPLD, has created a new solo contemporary dance work for International Women’s Day called I Plead Woman.
Said Aline: “In the piece, I search for my identity within the complex society I exist in: a topic that is in fact universal but in this case is delineated through my own experiences as a woman.”
Aline is hoping to perform the work in the area at several events.
Juliet Klottrup is a young photographer and film maker who was supported by GPLD to make a poetic documentary capturing portraits and stories of local youth living in the rural north.
Said Juliet, who is based near Ingleton: “The film is an ode to our landscape and a tribute to the young people who allowed me to capture their portraits so truthfully and sincerely. The area in which we live is so unique with parts of the landscape untouched for generations and some routines unchanged.
“GPLD has been incredibly supportive, excited and interested in my voice as an artist working on my first funded personal project. I want to be working in an industry that is inclusive, sustainable and respectful. GPLD has fully demonstrated that to me.”
Juliet also attended a residency as part of Watch This Space, a ground-breaking initiative which brought together different female creatives.
Juliet joined with writer Louise Cross, creative producer Melissa Davies and cellist Sarah Smout at Newton Grange self catering space, near Gargrave. The group’s discussions in an informal setting allowed inspiration to flow and quality research and development to take place. The women explored ideas and hope to work together in the future.
Meanwhile, Settle-based outdoor guide Steph Dwyer made her climbing wall and barn available for aerial performers and dancers to refine skills, rehearse and test ideas.
In Ambleside, opera singer Bibi Heal was able to carry out experiential research for her wellbeing initiative Song Surgery, in which she prescribes music and poetry to individuals for specific maladies.
Karen Bentley-Brown was supported by GPLD for a business skills training programme called Future Fixers, aimed at sustainable start-ups with a social conscience. Six women, each with an ecologically sound idea with a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit, worked with Kendal-based Karen on developing their businesses.
Harriet Wills is developing her glamping business with help from the project. She said: “Future Fixers gives you a structured programme of learning which feels like a step-by-step to launching our own business. It’s been wonderful to see how sustainable businesses can and do create an incredible impact in the world.”
Among the other businesses in the scheme are a zero-waste art café, green graphic designer, clothes up-cycler and organic, natural skin scrubs.
In Coniston, artists are working on a project ‘by women and for women’ looking at designing a self-build eco house with live/workspace for artists at Grizedale Art’s headquarters. Seedfunding from GPLD is helping support the early research and development phase of this project.
GPLD programme manager Lindsey Hebden said: “While everything we do is and has been open to all genders, we have noticed more women pursuing creative and artistic careers and activities. This can even be evidenced in our own set-up at GPLD where, quite by chance, most of our team of creative consultants are women. It’s a positive sign for equality of opportunity in the Lakes and Dales as we seek to help secure a vibrant, sustainable future.”
