A National Trust team in Cumbria has hosted its first public event online as it explores the connection humans have with the natural world.
The National Trust team in Keswick hosted the free event on March 4, with writers Wallace Heim and Maya Chowdhry reading from their work and then discussing themes of art, ecology, climate justice and land access with artist Rebecca Beinart, including questions and a group discussion from online participants.
The event, Slippery Time and Other-Than-Human Perspectives, was part of an ongoing place-based art project led by artist Rebecca Beinart at Crow Park in Keswick.
The park has been protected by the National Trust since 1935.
The project is called Desire Lines and it explores the connections humans have with the natural world. Rebecca is working with local people to get to know Crow Park from lots of different perspectives.
She will be asking how a special connection with a local green space can influence the way people think about global issues of climate change, ecology and access.
“Online talks may sound old-hat after a year of lockdowns and everything going online from choirs to yoga, but we’re really excited to have hosted our first public event online,” said Jessie Binns, who is co-ordinating the project for the National Trust.
“In a time where we can’t hold face-to-face events, it’s a new way of engaging with the communities who live beside the places we care for on behalf of the nation and we had some fascinating discussions.”
A total of 28 people attended the online event, which is being followed up by a series of three free online creative writing workshops led by Rebecca and Wallace Heim.
The project is part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts, supported with public funding by Arts Council England.
People can find out more about the project at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/desire-lines.
The artist is planning to make a recording of the talk available on the project website in the coming weeks.
