We are very proud of our recent ARTlifeLAND projects; quietly revolutionary arts and community practice exploring the past, present and future of this beautiful corner of England.

Although the programme of work is at an end, the legacy goes on in the work of the many individual creatives and arts companies we worked with. Their stories continue below...

Coleridge Way

A scheme of collaborative, creative works devised by artist Chris Jelley along the Coleridge Way route with the aim of giving walkers of all ages new ways to explore and engage with this romantic landscape. The Coleridge Way stretches 51 miles across hills and holloways, from Nether Stowey, through Porlock to Lynmouth.

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Poetry Pin

A ground-breaking project geo-locating new poetry along the boundaries of the new Hinkley C site; a £24 billion pound, ten year project to build Britain’s first nuclear power station for a generation here in Somerset.

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Dark Starry Skies

A community project inspired by Exmoor National Park’s designation as the first international Dark Sky Reserve in Europe. Led by artist and story teller Frances Harrison, gathering and sharing starry thoughts, memories and ideas from all ages.
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In April 2000, ARTlife took on the arts and cultural service for West Somerset Council - the first fully devolved service in England. We awarded grants and mentored community groups, offered training bursaries and courses for professional creatives, worked with ACE South West and other cultural agencies on research projects, conferences and creative industries development, and delivered a diverse programme of projects and events. As local authority funding became squeezed, we sought alternative routes for development, including the ARTlifeLAND projects featured on this site. The screenshots below tell some of the story of our early years and are taken from a now-defunct website.