We are delighted to announce that we have been busy behind the scenes creating Puddingstone Arts and have actually managed to set up a CIC, a new collaboration founded by and for local creatives in Boxmoor, Dacorum, Herts and beyond.
In the process of sharing ideas and creative intention, Founders Kate Walton (Wild Wisdom Calling) and Kerry Lanigan (Nysa Projects TrimTots CIC and Planet Munch Puppets) arrived at Puddingstone Arts as a name for a new venture. Formed to implement programmes of creative engagement, provide opportunities for artists and connect with the creative community in Dacorum and across Herts.
Kate and Kerry share a passion for creative arts and bringing communities together. They work as creative practitioners, Kate facilitating land-based arts, events and outreach from Fishery Wharf Cafe and Kerry producing projects and programmes of community engagement in her work at Nysa Projects. Their work has become more aligned since producing My Story founded in 2019 in collaboration with Herts Libraries, leading them to establish a vehicle for creative arts in Boxmoor where they both live.
The team at Puddingstone Arts are in the process of applying for Heritage Funding to begin an initial 18-month place-based project. This work is a development of their individual and collective work over the past 25 years, co-creating in community settings to explore visual arts and story. Puddingstone Arts is pleased to be supported by Dacorum Borough Council, Community Action Dacorum, Dacorum Heritage Trust, Heath Barn CIC, Dacorum Dance, Fishery Trout Lake and a team of local artists, makers and interested individuals. A big THANKS to all for support.
The year opened with an exciting visit to Dacorum Heritage Trust, where the team took us on an insightful journey through time from Roman villa tiles and puddingstone querns to the more day-to-day of pennies, pipes and wonderful examples of the corn creations crafted in the locality. A big thank you to Melissa and team for having us.
Ancient Currency – A Medieval Penny from Kings Langley Palace
The top of a puddingstone quern from Cow Roast, Tring.
A fragment of painted plaster wall from Boxmoor Roman Villa
The lovely Melissa Linsey shares examples of straw plait, once a thriving local cottage industry.
Wild Crafts Basket Weaving with Kate Walton of Puddingstone Arts as part of Dacorum Creative Showcase – 24th and 25th of May at Fishery Wharf Cafe
We are delighted to share news of funding to support a series of creative craft events, starting with a Wild Crafts, Basket Weaving Workshop with Kate Walton, generously supported as part of Dacorum Creative Showcase and taking place at Fishery Wharf Cafe as a featured event of the Boxmoor Canal Festival on the 24th and 25th of May at 10:30.
For full details follow the link below
Wild Crafts Weaving with Kate Walton Booking Link and Information
Two free sessions on Saturday, May 24th and 25th, merging basket weaving with natural resources and story, suitable for ages 8+
Follow link to book..
Wild Crafts Basket Weaving at Fishery Wharf Cafe as part of Boxmoor Canal Fest – 24th May 10:30
This session is the first in a series of ancient creative craft sessions culminating in a lantern event later this year. Let us know if you want to be involved.
Please find a link to all Dacorum Creative Showcase events programmed by Dacorum Borough Council taking place from May 24th – June 29th
Click link to the packed and exciting Dacorum Creative Showcase Programme
Why Puddingstone Arts?
Puddingstone is a conglomerate of small pebbles bonded together by silica to form solid rock.
Puddingstone is a unique symbol of unity and conglomeration, individual stones and pebbles bound together where each rock contributes to its strength and beauty, representing the unification of diverse elements into a cohesive whole.
Maybe this foundational stone helped shape and create the place we now live, where 400 years ago, a secret bid took place for locals to procure the moorlands and secure it within and for the community. This was the first deal of its kind, adding to and enriching the story of community inclusion, strength and unity.
This heritage lies firmly at the heart of Boxmoor and beyond, encapsulating the essence of harmonious coexistence and collective strength. This serves to remind us that each individual, regardless of shape, colour, age or cultural background, contributes to the greater whole and collective growth is enhanced when we accept and integrate the diversity within us.
There is much to be uncovered and creatively explored with Boxmoor and its surrounding areas, and we as Puddingstone Arts, are excited to bring artists, creatives and communities together to re-imagine and preserve our heritage to Herts.
Place-based stories and the art they inspire.
This Artist-led project aims to provide opportunity for community co-creation to engage, inspire, open conversation and invite shared ownership. The project is set to explore heritage through an artistic lens and document the rich culture that springs along the canal, presenting the art forms that are enjoyed and elevating the artistry of the community as we uncover stories of the land and all that here reside.
Puddingstone Arts programme of creative engagement invites the wider community to engage in heritage and discover the stories of the land through a programme of creative engagement that includes a series of public events, a series of ancient craft sessions and explorative workshops.
This place-based project invites the public to reflect from now to way back when through the process of creative engagement to capture the spirit of place and the contemporary stories of canal-side living, uncovered through an investigative creative process.
Please get in touch for more information. An updated programme is coming soon.
Kate and Kerry wildwisdomcalls@gmail.com and kerry@nysa.co.uk
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