Art and the Canal & River Trust
In today's world it is increasingly difficult to grab people's attention. Over the next few months our slow-flowing, historic canals will see a burst of contemporary arts in a programme of new works such as an immersive sonic installation; performance poetry; a canal tour of radical folk music; sculptures by leading international artists and many other surprises.
Supported by public funding through Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales, the Canal & River Trust initiates many new commissions with its leading arts partners. We also respond to talented artists and producers who are inspired by our canals and rivers to make amazing new works, which they see as simultaneously gritty, elegant, urban and bucolic.
The programme is helping to meet the Canal & River Trust’s vision - living waterways transform places and enrich lives. The arts can help translate this into a compelling narrative which our visitors, customers and staff can get behind, and which encourages people to donate and volunteer.
We want our waterways to be sustainable and remain relevant to people’s everyday lives. We recognise that the arts attract, involve and surprise many different people - from excellent local arts festivals to global events like the Cultural Olympiad during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Tony Hales, chairman of the Canal & River Trust explains:
“For the Canal & River Trust, this programme is about finding creative new ways to introduce more people to the waterways as visitors and supporters while also supporting talented artists who are inspired by rivers and canals to make great art. We also want to surprise and delight existing communities. The initiative is inspired by early waterway pioneers such as Robert Aickman and LTC Rolt of the Inland Waterways Association, who used their artistic and literary connections to win new supporters to the waterway cause in the 20th century”.
The Trust’s annual survey of boaters revealed that a third of boat owners recently experienced arts events on, or about, canals with 66% rating them excellent or good. In the past 2 years the Trust has attracted more than £3 million for arts projects on our waterways and in our museums over the next two years. In 2014, you will see more artists than ever responding to our extraordinary waterways, reconnecting communities with their local canal or river.
The Trust is part of a strategic network of organisations, including the National Trust and the Forestry Commission, who are working with Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales to incorporate contemporary art into their work, leverage in third party funds and attract more and different visitors.
Read the full article by Tony Hales, chairman of the Canal & River Trust
Read Richard Fairhurst's artice, Britain's longest art gallery
Find out more about the Floating Cinema
