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An important part of the programmeof the future Kurt Schwitters in England Foundation will be promoting new scholarship and public access to Schwitters work and ideas via a range of exhibitions, conferences, artists' commissions, on-line/websites, publications and DVD/film projects. Much of this work is ialready under development and includes:
MERZLAND - Schwitters conference at Tate Britain in 2004.
The KS series of Autumn Schools and guest lectures at Cylinders which commenced in 2006
'Save the Merz Barn' Campaign summit, Tate Britain 2006
'Suitcase Cultures' Refugee Arts, Cylinders, June 6th 2008
NEWROOTS exhibition, Diane Rickerby a partnership project with Lithuanian and Slovakian migrant women workers in Maryport.
'Barns in Langdale', photographic documentation project by Rob Fraser
Kultivars Seminar and artists’ residency, Cylinders, October 26-31, 2008, with the Swedish artist group Kultivator
Merzdorf - Exhibition, Conference, Cabaret, and Merz Barn Charity Auction, Royal College of Art, May 1 - 7, 2009
'On The Wilder Side of Woodland Crafts', Seminar at Cylinders for rural craftspeople and furniture designers. Speakers included: Peter Toaig (The One-Tree Project), Simon Blackmore and members of the Owl Project, and Charlie Whinney. 19.08.09
While You Were Away Seminar, October 3rd and 4th 2009 with Penelope Curtis (Henry Moore Institute), Barbara Steveni (Flat Time House), Dr. Ben Read, and David Medalla.
'Hedge Schools - New Critical Spaces', with Maurice Carlin (Islington Mill Studios), Sophie Hope (B+B), Eva Merz (New Social Art School, Peter Lewis & Makiko Nagaya (Redux Projects).
with accompanying exhibitions in the Merz Barn and the Shippon Gallery, and the Merzzzoom Cabaret performances, including performances of Schwitters’ Ursonate by the Accrington Rock Group Funnel, and poetry by Rosanna Raymond and Bunny Robinson. With The Lakeland Fiddlers, leader Carolyn Francis. Special Guest Performance in the Merz Barn by artist David Medalla.
MERZTEXTE Seminar, Cylinders 12-13.06.10 
Attendees at the 2010 Meeztexte Seminar, Weirside, Chapel Stile
Schwitters in Scotland 18-20.6.12. Event at the Port of Leith with the lady piper Louise Cantara and Florian Kaplick; Seminar Craigmillar Castle, Schwitters in Scotland
Pathways - an exhibition by YAC (Young Artists in Cumbria): Kiah Adamson, Stacy, Ken, Joni Kirtin, Sarah (mother Julie), Harriette Wolff, Ross, Becky, Kate and David
'Getting Started ' Young Artists Seminar, 7th September 2010
Heritage Open Days at Cylinders, 11-12.09.10
Planned Future exhibitions and publications projects (2011 - 2014):
Replica of the Merz Barn created in the forecourt of the Royal Academy, to accompany the Modern British Sculpture Exhibition curated by Penelope Curtis and Keith Wilson. January through to April 2011
MERZMAN Festival
in Manchester - city-wide programme of exhibitions, seminars, digital arts, performance and film, coordinated by LITTORAL in collaboration withCastlefield Gallery, CUBE Gallery, MadLab, Islington Mill, Bury Art Gallery, Pool Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University. February to March 2011
Kurt Schwitters in England (1940 - 48)
a survey exhibition and catalogue documenting for the first time all of Schwitters artistic and literary output, during his last years living in England and on Isle of Man. This woud include a reprint/facsimile of the pioneering 1958 Gabberoccus publication 'Kurt Schwitters in England'
Schwitters Sculptures and 3D works
proposed touring exhibition and publication (currently under development)
The Merz Barn
touring exhibition and publication documenting the history, iconography an development of Schitters' last Merzbau project; the Elterwater Merz Barn
The URSONATE unplugged
International concert programme, exhibition, conference and Radio/CD/audio arts project documenting and celebrating all of Schwitters' sound works, poetry performances and theatre/dance works, including several hundred contemporary artists, musicians composers and performers who have also been influenced by Schwitters and his work.
Ursonate performed by Jaap Blonk
See also: Ursonate (BBC Radio3)
Two major exhibitions are proposed for 2012/13, to coincide with the planned opening of the restored Merz Barn and site at Cylinders in Elterwater.
1. ArtBarns II: After Kurt Schwitters, artist farmer collaborations in rural Cumbria (2011 - 12)
ArtBarns II is proposed as an experiment in development of more socially responsive and environmentally sustainable curatorial models for trans regional international art events. 
Poster of first ArtBarns exhibition in 1999
Modeled on the successful 1999 ArtBarns project, the ArtBarns II art commissions would be developed in close consultation with the host farmer, rural community and/or urban centre partner or organisation.
Artists will be encouraged to collaborate with local hill farmers and rural communities to frame new creative interpretations and imaginative responses to issues concerning rural social, environmental and economic sustainability. Other artists might choose to produce art works inside the barns mainly as a tribute to Schwitters and the Merz Barn, and in terms of media may involve installations, video projections, public art works, sculptures, etc., for display on farms and in selected farm barns. 
Chris Drury's Art barn proposal (Preliminary design for Wool Chamber)
The proposed ArtBarns II commissions on upland farms in 2011 will be developed under one or more of the follow headings or strands:
1. Barns as new rural art galleries and farming cultural communications centres
2. Barns as exhibition spaces in which artists address key rural and farming issues
3. Farms as places for new art and architecture collaborations and experimentation
4. Tributes to Schwitters Merz Barn, and/or interpreting the Merzbau in new ways
5. Field Art - art and cultivation and farm based art and sustainability projects
6. Creative rural economy; promoting arts based rural tourism & alternative land uses
2. MERZBAU
International survey exhibition
A proposal for a major international Merzbau survey exhibition and publication is also being considered. The exhibition would aim to present for the first time extensive documentation and full-scale architectural re-constructions of all four of Schwitters' Merzbau projects. Leading architects and artists may also be commissioned to produce new artworks and large scale architectural installations in honour of Schwitters, or aimed at re- interpreting the Merzbauten in some new and creative ways.
Proposal to develop an international exhibitions, publication and art conservation project aimed at promoting new scholarly research and public understanding about Schwitters' pioneering Merzbau projects, and also documenting their continuing legacy and contemporary influences. The project also forms part of an international effort to document, restore and conserve the surviving elements of Schwitters' Merzbau projects.
Key elements of the Merzbau exhibition:
(1) Research programme. Consolidation of a new body of art historical research and scholarship aimed at widening public understanding about the importance of Schwitters' Merzbauten and their evolution as a single oeuvre. Including a re-view of the structural and stylistic evolution of the Merzbauten in the context of the development of early modernist art and architecture, and also documenting their ongoing influence and contribution to contemporary art and architecture;
(2) Conservation strategy. Coordination of an international art conservation programme and supporting research effort (involving partners based in Britain, Norway, Germany, USA) to work collaboratively on the documentation and restoration of the two surviving Merzbau projects in Elterwater (England), and Hjertoya (Norway);
(3) Exhibition and publication. Production of a major international touring exhibition and publication documenting the stylistic and critical development and contemporary legacy of all four of Schwitters' Merzbau projects; Hannover (1923-33), Lysaker (1937-39), Hjertoya (1934-39), and the Merz Barn, Elterwater Cumbria (1947);
(4) International conference. Organisation of a conference to coincide with the exhibition, focused on new study of Schwitters' Merzbauten, sculptures and other art works, and documenting their influence on contemporary artists and architects.
Copyright 2011 by LITTORAL. All rights reserved. LITTORAL is a non-profit arts trust which promotes new creative partnerships, critical art practices and cultural strategies in response to issues about social, environmental and economic change. LITTORAL 42, Lodge Mill Lane, Turn Village, Ramsbottom BL0 0RW, UK. Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1706 827 961 e-mail:Ian@littoral.org.uk.
Project development / Research, Exhibitions and Publications
Community involvement
Educational programmes
Research, exhibitions and publications
Proposed Merzbau Museum
Management Team