Land and the Samling - 2002

'Land and the Samling', the second project in a three year Visual Arts Programme, brought together five emerging professional artists: Tanya Axford, Claire Barber, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Matt Stokes and Wolfgang Weileder. Each artist received a commission to produce temporary artwork during a month-long residency at Keilder Forest in Northumberland. In turn they each mentored 12 A-level art students from across Tyne & Wear. In all sixty young people were involved in intensive residential workshops led by the artists in the forest.

The project began with a Symposium chaired by Matthew Collings who, at very short notice, replaced James Turrell as keynote speaker. He admirably set the scene for the project and was able to bring the disparate elements together.

Without exception the artists and students used the opportunities they were given at Kielder not only to respond to the wild and remote landscape they found themselves in, but to challenge and develop their own work and practice in a new context. The project's expectations were exceeded.

This pilot project charted new territories for the Foundation too, explored different ways of working and developed a wider on-going partnership with Excellence Challenge and the five 'Excellence in Cities' partnerships in Tyne and Wear, including Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

All new initiatives ask a great deal from those involved and we are indebted to the artists who gave of themselves so unstintingly. Apart from engaging in their own work in a challenging environment they brought out the best in the students. It has been clear from the information we gathered through interviews, anonymous questionnaires and video that it was, above all, an inspiring journey for everyone. We are grateful to the teachers and advisors who supported the project and enabled opportunities to be grasped.

'Land and the Samling' was a pilot project for Arena.  A catalogue of the work is available from The Samling Foundation