Join us this summer for a special series of family friendly arts workshops which will give you the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Wivenhoe Park this summer.
The Art in the Park sessions will include treasure trails, circus skills, animal sculpture making and painting in the park. There is also the chance to be taken on a walking tour by celebrated wild writer James Canton.
Download the Art in the Park Map.
These free outdoor arts activities are suitable for all ages and provide an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the historic parkland painted by artist John Constable in 1816. They are supported by funding from Essex County Council’s Arts and Cultural Fund.
“We are excited to open up Wivenhoe Park to local communities. We have seven family friendly arts activities planned which will be perfect for exploring art and culture in the local area in the summer holidays!” (Jess Twyman, Curator of Art Exchange).
All workshops will start by meeting at Art Exchange before taking a short walk into the park. There is no need to book, just turn up!
The Art in the Park programme includes:
- Tree Treasure Trail – with artist Elaine Tribley, Saturday 20 July, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Painting in the Park – with Suffolk based artist Claudia Boese, Saturday 27 July, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Instant (almost!) Cyanotype Photography – with photographer Jack Briggs-Miller, Saturday 3 August, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Foraging in Wivenhoe Park – with wildcrafter, artist and author Lora Aziz, Saturday 10 August, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Wild Walking – with wild writer James Canton. Saturday 17 August, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Animal Cracker Sculpture in the Park – with local artists Clare Iles and Tom Armstrong, Saturday 24 August, 2pm to 4.30pm
- Circus Skills out in the Park – with Manningtree based the Grand Theatre of Lemmings, Saturday 31 August, 2pm to 4.30pm
Those taking part in the sessions can also visit Art Exchange’s exhibition Brutal But Beautiful, which is curated by Jess Twyman and explores the architecture of the University of Essex and how it brought the vision of founding Vice Chancellor, Sir Albert Sloman, to life.
Brutal But Beautiful and Art in the Park are part of the University’s 60th anniversary celebrations and are a chance to reflect on the natural setting and architectural ambition of the University and how students, staff and people from the local community have shaped and continue to shape its vision.
We have worked with local artists, writers, and theatre companies to create seven afternoon workshops which will “open up” Wivenhoe Park, encouraging participants to become immersed in nature while enjoying the vistas and exploring their own creativity.
Local artist Clare Iles will lead one of the workshops. She said “John Constable’s painting, Wivenhoe Park, explores the scenery of the park and pays tribute to its wildlife and animals. Our workshop will respond to Constable’s painting, exploring animals collectively, beginning with cows and swans and including other animals using simple leftover and recycled materials to create anthropomorphic forms.”
Wild writer Dr James Canton will lead visitors on a tour of Wivenhoe Park, stopping at intervals to reflect and read from his influential book The Oak Papers.
He said: “A gentle walk about the glorious natural landscape of Wivenhoe Park will see us stopping at some of the finest trees to write, reflect, hear tales of the ways in which humans and trees have interacted over time.”