Keswick Museum is launching a new project exploring the relationship people have with the outdoors in the area.
During the pandemic, many have relied on outdoor spaces as safe places to exercise, socialise, or simply appreciate nature.
Nurturing Nature: Physical and emotional convalescence in Keswick’s outdoor spaces will use objects from the museum’s collection to tell stories of how others have used these same spaces throughout history.
Pieces on display will include creative responses to the landscape and objects relating to Blencathra Sanatorium for tuberculosis, as well as photographs showing how locals engaged with the outdoors during recent lockdowns.
The exhibition will also explore stories of how local people obtained public access to green spaces – from the founding of Fitz Park to the Keswick & District Footpaths Preservation Association trespasses which ensured a public right of way to Latrigg.
Nurturing Nature continues the museum’s mission to expand the museum beyond the gallery walls with an engagement programme over the course of the 12-month project, with further details to be released.
Next month, the museum will launch a temporary outdoor Connections Gallery in its courtyard.
The exhibition will also be a place of recovery for the museum: on a work-in-progress wall, staff will list achievements the museum has made – however small or large – in its recovery from the damage COVID-19 has done.
The museum aims to start a conversation about the effect the pandemic has had on arts organisations.
Curator Nicola Lawson said: “This exhibition was inspired by COVID-19, but what is revealed through the objects is that people have always needed and loved the outdoor sites in this area. The people of Keswick fought for public access to green spaces for their health and enjoyment, and these places have been invaluable for so many of us over the last year.”
Nurturing Nature: Physical and emotional convalescence in Keswick’s outdoor spaces will run from July 17 to July 10 2022 at Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, with the free Connections Gallery opening on August 14.
