Morecambe Bay

Headlands to Headspace: Landscape Art Commissions
Morecambe Bay Partnership (MBP), 2018 - 2019

theCoLAB was Artistic Advisor to the Morecambe Bay Partnership for the commissioning of a series of five site-specific works, both temporary and permanent along the 100 miles of Morecambe Bay as part of ‘Headlands to Headspace’ their major arts commissioning project - part of a Heritage Lottery Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Morecambe Bay is an area with spectacular beauty and a fascinating natural and cultural heritage that spans 100 miles of coastline from Walney Island in the North to Cockerham in the South. The area is a complex mosaic of rural, urban and coastal environments with multiple designations including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and areas of rare wildlife species. The area has a spiritual significance for many and a history of seafaring and trade. 

Working closely with Deco Publique, theCOLAB co-curated the artistic programme, realising five ambitious new works that would encourage people to visit and make connections with the heritage of the land, sea and people of the Bay.

The project is a celebration of the natural archaeological and social heritage of the Bay with works inspired by its extraordinary land, sea and people. In collaboration with Morecambe Bay Partnership, the National Trust, AONB, Lancashire and Cumbria County Councils, the National Trust.

The resulting five landscape works were visited by approximately 30,000+ audiences in the first months, were featured in a special Boxing Day ‘slow art’ edition of BBC Radio Four Front Row as well as on news channels, in arts press and in the British Theatre Guide.