Project: Sydling/Cerne RiverRun
Grant: £3,000
Area of benefit: Dorchester and Cerne
This project successfully delivered a 2 stranded science and arts based project to raise awareness of river ecologies and climate change impacts through cultural engagement.
It included a public science/arts focused workshop as part of Dorset Science Week at WaterShed in March 2023 and to commission an artwork as part of the Cerne Giant Festival.
Sasha Constable was commissioned to lead a community art project that drew inspiration from the Otter, a frequent visitor to the River Cerne. The River Cerne is one of the few chalk rivers worldwide, flowing into the river Frome, famed as a chalk habitat for salmon as they breed and migrate to the High Artic.
The ‘Otter Serpent’ in Dragon Form was created and installed by Sasha Constable and champions our need to nurture the precious water that flows through our habitat and village. This Cape Farewell commission invites us to think imaginatively about how to address and transform the environmental crisis that humans have caused, and to find ways to turn the tide.
You can read more about this project here The Otter Serpent in Dragon Form, The Cerne Giant Festival 2023 – Cape Farewell.
More than 500 people attended the installation of the Otter Serpent.
Cape Farewell in partnership with Bournemouth University held a free science day workshop, where anyone could get involved with scientists ‘in the field’ whilst they conducted research as part of Dorchester Science Festival. The day of workshops was hosted by Cape Farewell to promote a dialogue on climate change and biodiversity
The whole project engaged 15 volunteers creating over 100 hours of volunteering opportunity.
Quotes
“This grant allowed us to deliver a great programme of community engagement and employ Dorset artists and creatives to deliver a programme of ecological care. Please repeat and continue. A great use of public funds which empowered and engaged many people in Dorset and internationally”. Cape Farewell Project Organiser.
"Thank you to all concerned for a super experience at Cape Farewell on Saturday - all 3 workshops were inspiring in very different ways and most informative and enjoyable. Keep up the great work."
"The day was amazing, and the visitors were truly interested and engaging with everything. The kids were completely embedded in what we were doing and contributed beautifully to the activities."