Educational Programmes

Since it acquired the site in late 2006, the Trust has been active in developing a regular programme of schools and community involvement projects, both at the Merz Barn and Cylinders site, and also in Ambleside and at villages nearby; Chapel Stile and Grasmere.

Schools projects
This includes a pilot schools’ arts and environmental education programme which is being developed in partnership with Grasmere, Ambleside and Langdale Primary schools and which aims to explore the potential of the Merz Barn project as the site at Cylinders as a multi-purpose environmental and creative resource for use by local schools and young people. This is being coordinated by the LITTORAL schools’ artist, Pat Smith. Led by Langdale school, the children and head teacher Mark Quires have recently signed a contract with the LITTORAL Trust to act as the Merz Barn project’s main educational and creative consultants.

Some of the projects developed recently by the children and Pat Smith include; the Snake Stick project; a collage art project; the magic Merz fence, a Damien Hirst Spin painting project; a community radio/local oral history project.

Merzweg; exhibition of snake stick art works by local children

Snake stick sculpture, above Merz Barn entrance

Longer term plans

1. KINDER-MERZBAU, a two year schools’ Merzbau and Modern Architecture research and exhibition project to be developed as an international partnership involving schools in Norway, Germany, England and in Africa.
2. Development of a pilot urban - rural schools’ arts and cultural exchange programme, being developed as partnership linking Langdale school with inner city Cheetham Community School, which has children mainly from Muslim backgrounds and from new urban immigrant communities.
3. Development of a sustainable food, crafts and energy project on site at Cylinders, involving willow growing, basket making and the restoration of the estate’s gardens and horticulture collections;
4. Local Voices - local skills, an arts and local history study of the gunpowder, coppice and charcoal making traditions of the Langdale valley, and its related community history, cultural and oral traditions.

Charcoal making workshops in the woods

Arts Schools’ residential projects at the Merz Barn

Art students from the Slade School of Art and the Royal College of Art have been pioneering one week residencies for MA students at the Merz Barn. These will be expanded and offered to other art schools in the coming years, and there also plans for a international student summer work camp at Cylinders commencing in July 2009.

Postcard Report from Slade MA residency at the Merz Barn (May 2008)

Sound installation outside the Merz Barn, autumn 2008. Artist Dan Fox. Photo Adam James.