Arts grant funded project set to tour parts of the National Forest by bicycle  

22nd Sep 2021
offline poster on bike

 

Everyone will know the National Forest as a place where we plant lots of trees, but over the years we have also encouraged people to express how they feel as part of the Forest and respond to the Forest in various ways. 

Earlier this year we awarded grants to six projects as part of a pilot scheme to support the arts sector within the National Forest throughout the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. The National Forest Arts Grants were set up to help the creative community to adapt to ways of working and to test out different forms of creative activity, inviting us to engage with the Forest in different ways, building a positive connection to the natural world, and increased awareness of the Forest.  

Throughout the spring and summer, we’ve experienced some fantastic and inspiring work generated through this initiative, some of which were presented at Timber festival in July. One of the final projects is soon to take place and will be touring parts of the National Forest by bicycle, including Coalville, Swadlincote and Burton-Upon-Trent

Offline, by Nottingham-based multidisciplinary artists INSTAR, is a mobile exhibition including a series of 16 original artworks. INSTAR will be touring their large poster-size artworks on a bicycle trailer to locations across the Forest from 30 Sept – 2 Oct.  

INSTAR have responded to the heightened relationship with nature that many people experienced through the pandemic, by highlighting the continued importance of being outdoors and connecting to nature. Offline celebrates a brave new future, where we are as plugged into nature as we are technology.  

Along with the portable exhibition INSTAR will be delivering poster printing workshops at schools and community settings, inspiring those that take part to create their own artwork themed around the National Forest and its wildlife. 

Look out for INSTAR pedalling across National Forest towns on the following dates: 

  • Thursday 30 September – Coalville 

  • Friday 1 October – Swadlincote  

  • Saturday 2 October – Burton upon Trent  

You can keep track of INSTAR’S latest plans by following #OfflineForest and view the artworks via the online zine or www.we-are-instar.co.uk/offline 

offline illustrations