Local Artists and Community Come Together to Create a Multisensory Exhibition that Celebrates the Fenland Landscape.

Sensing Nature celebrates work made with local communities who have creatively
engaged with the heritage, significance and stories of the Fenland landscape, in
partnership with Ely Museum, RNIB and Wicken Fen.

Curated by Basecoat Collective – a group of 18-25 year olds – the exhibition invited people to contemplate how they connect with nature, and includes new artwork from composer Tom Adams, artist Kaitlin Ferguson, and a selection of artworks from an open call to the local community.

Sensing Nature is part of a wider project called Inspired by Nature, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Babylon ARTS are working in partnership with Ely Museum, RNIB and the National Trust’s Wicken Fen Nature Reserve to develop creative approaches that facilitate connection and engagement with nature for people with low vision, children, young people and the wider public.

Sensing Nature encapsulates the project aims, with the exhibition celebrating nature, with
inclusivity and accessibility considered throughout. It features a sound piece created by composer Tom Adams in collaboration with participants from CamSight and Vision Norfolk; 3D printed fossils from artist Kaitlin Ferguson used in a whole-school project with pupils from Highfield Littleport Academy; and a range of multisensory artworks from an open call to the public. The exhibition has been curated by Basecoat Collective, a group of young artists and creatives from the local area aged 18-25 years.

“Inspired by Nature has been a wonderful project where creativity has been used as a vehicle to better understand, celebrate and be inspired by the unique Fenland landscape,” says Lucy Wheeler, Project Coordinator for Inspired by Nature,

“From imagining Wicken Fen in the pre-historic age with school children, to making soundscapes inspired by Fenland folklore with participants from CamSight and Vision Norfolk. Basecoat Collective have curated Sensing Nature – an intelligent, thought-provoking exhibition that has involved so many people of all ages.”

The exhibition will include access to an audio-tour, exploring some of the artwork through audio description, and raised drawings where possible, to provide further access and engagement to the 2D artworks.

Sensing Nature is on from Friday 1st March at Babylon Gallery until Sunday 24th March.
Babylon Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm with free entry.

Press release from Babylon ARTS