The Cultivate project for Take Art has had a busy time of events, activity, and outdoor community participation. We love our new Cultivate postcard, illustrated, and designed by Mell Oliver from the Sunshine Bindery, based at Flaxdrayton Farm.
Slow Burn
The Slow Burn project involving ARK at Egwood, visual artist, Natasha Rand and children linked to the charity PROMISEworks, shared their project story in an Open Day at ARK attracting over 1000 people.
The children involved were able to talk about the project to parents, teachers and the public whilst serving homemade pizza direct from the Cultivate pizza oven. Children involved experienced an 8-week programme of creative workshops and activities along with building, sculpting, and designing their own pizza oven.
This is the best place ever, I never want to leave. I love making the pizza oven, I’m so happy!
Participant aged 11
Wrap around workshops included willow weaving, mosaic tiling, working with clay and circus skills. Wassail Theatre Company performed their show Whispering Willows as part of the woodland activities. The children showed so much pride, happiness, and joy on the day, especially being able to eat as much pizza as they could – and why not! We couldn’t be prouder of them.
Artist Natasha Rand reflects on the day’s events after a full day of pizza making and sharing the Slow Burn story:
Yeovil Together
Cultivate were delighted to be part of Yeovil Together. A community day in Yeovil working with some of Yeovil’s ethnically diverse communities. The event combined homemade tasters that community members had prepared from their kitchens, local food, music, performances, poetry, and many different organisations, including Take Art. The event was a celebration of diversity and inclusion.
Circus and rope walking extrodinaire, Kwabana Lindsay, wowed audiences with his slack rope walking whilst playing a violin and harmonica.
David Reakes from Tor Theatre brought a flavour of poetry to the day, creating his “What Rhymes with Yeovil” poem for the occasion. You can download the poem here.
The Somerset Food Trail
The Somerset Food Trail 2022 was a county wide farm to fork showcase of 190 local, sustainable and delicious food, producers, farms and cafes. Cultivate collaborated with local producers throughout the trail offering arts activity and a cultural offering including music, poetry, family performances and visual arts. The trail has received national coverage and Cultivate’s hub facilitator, Katy spoke with Steve Haigh from Ninesprings Radio about the festival:
Cultivate were delighted to recruit 28 participants and stamp our southern producers firmly on the Somerset Food Trail map. Producers included:
North Perrott Farm Shop and garden centre, The Alternative Indian, The Barley Sugar Bakehouse, Crewkerne Farmer’s Market, The Feed Station, Hinton Harvest, Pip’s Railway Carriage, Trading Post Farm Shop, The Pigpen, Honey Pot Farm, The Green House, Perry’s Cider, Whitehouse Farm Cherries, Riverside Somerset, The Old Calf Shed, The Pastry Bench, Rawlins Family Cider, Lower Hewood Farm, The Candlelit Inn, The Old Dairy Café, Four Winds Cider Farm, HOLM, West Country Water Buffalo, Apple Tree Farm Shop & Restaurant, Cow & Apple, Take No Wrap Eco Store, Ecofair Yeovil and Liberty Dairy.
The project worked with local producers Pip’s Railway Carriage, The Pig Pen, The Old Dairy, Whitehouse Farm Cherries and Bere Cider. Here are a few photos of the events that have all taken place in the last week. More photos, films and updates to follow, keep your eye on the Take Art website.
Cultivate Treats To Come
Chill on the Hill - 21 August, Ham Hill
A family friendly event to participate in the arts, watch professional circus and enjoy music, storytelling and learn about the land and local food producers that surround us. In collaboration with The Prince of Wales Pub and the Ham Hill Rangers.
Children can sign up for Aerial workshops with Shaena Brandel from Pirates of the Carabina, Cayontype workshops with Carolyn Lefley, and a bug hunt with Countryside Manager, Rachael Whaites.
There'll be storytelling from Sarah Mooney, music from Till Hill and band, music at the pub, food and drink, ice cream and a foodie quiz to finish the day!
Watch Brainfools Circus show trailer of Lucky Pigeons here.
For all the information, to book and to find out about all the FREE activity on offer
Farm Yard Circus - 25 August, Bagnell Farm, Norton Sub Hamdon
Schools out, Farm Yard Circus is in! Cultivate is delighted to be welcoming Farm Yard Circus to Bagnell Farm in Norton Sub Hamdon this summer!
A family show inspired by farm-life to create a circus spectacle. Enjoy live music, group acrobatics and juggling using hay bales, wheelbarrows, a tractor tyre and even an old scarecrow.
You can watch the trailer here.
Show starts at 1.30pm and pre-show food and drinks will be available from 12:30pm.
To find out more and to book click here.
