The project explored what constitutes a ‘place,’ revealing the interconnectedness of rural land, communities, and lives. Artists were encouraged to respond broadly to the theme, investigating people, animals, landscapes, and human–non-human relationships. Their work also examined the legacies of old industries, new technologies, sustainable energy, re-wilding, changing farming practices, and contemporary expressions of culture, skills, and traditions in response to environmental and social change.
Residencies took place across the Tarset and North Tyne communities, including VARC (Highgreen), Kielder Village, Unison Colour, Tarset Village Hall, and The Heritage Centre at Bellingham. Artists worked closely with local people and materials, integrating research, observation, and community engagement into their practices. The residency artists included:
- Sam Douglas, VARC (Highgreen), 10 months (June 2019 – April 2020)
- Catriona Gallagher, VARC (Highgreen), 10 months (July 2020 – April 2021)
- Shane Finan, Kielderhead Wildwood Project (Northumberland Wildlife Trust), 1 month (April 2021)
- Emily Ketteringham, Unison Colour, 1 month (May–June 2021)
- Robbie Coleman & Jo Hodges, Tarset Village Hall, 1 month (May–June 2021)
- Bridget Kennedy, The Heritage Centre at Bellingham, 1 month (June–July 2021)
Associated artists Kate Liston and Andrew Burton also spent time at Highgreen, producing work for the exhibition.
ENTWINED encouraged artists to engage with local archives, libraries, and collections, drawing on under-explored sources of knowledge held by partner organisations. The residency invited the public to participate in conversations about the ecology of place, exploring the connections between Tarset, the North Tyne, and wider regional and international communities.
The project was inspired by Mike Pratt (CEO, Northumberland Wildlife Trust) and Cynthia Morrison-Bell (Chair, VARC Trustees), focusing on an “ecology of place” that considers both people’s relationship with nature and the habitats they inhabit. The concept was further developed by VARC’s Janet Ross and partners, guided by the principle of interconnectedness reflected in Jenny Holzer’s quote, “All things are delicately interconnected.”
ENTWINED was delivered in partnership with Unison Colour, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Tarset Village Hall, The Heritage Centre at Bellingham, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Sunderland University, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park, Art Circuit, Northumberland Archives, Natural History Society of Northumbria, Tarset Archive Group, and Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, with funding from Arts Council England National Lottery and other supporters.
Through residencies, workshops, and public engagement, ENTWINED revealed how art can illuminate the delicate interconnections between rural landscapes, communities, and the living environment.
