Helen Moore
Award-winning ecopoet, socially engaged artist and writer
RiverRun
Artist commissions interrogating the environmental impact of the way the Dorset land is farmed, and the impact on the rivers and waters that feed Poole Bay.
One of the biggest challenges to the UK environment is the poor state of freshwater and the amplifying impact of climate change and farming practices on it. Wildlife in freshwater has declined at a faster rate than in other habitats and is particularly susceptible to climate change.
RiverRun is a three-year project that connects Cape Farewell’s scientific partners with local farmers and artists. The creative programme of research and development is designed to embrace and interrogate the complex issue of the poor state of freshwater, and aims to raise awareness of the magnitude and impact of the problem.
The research and development phase will culminate in exhibitions, events and workshops in Autumn 2021, and we are delighted to be partnering with Durlston Country Park in Swanage and Lighthouse in Poole. We are also planning and an open call for six new south-west based artists to join the project as we further develop RiverRun through 2021 and 2022.
The RiverRun project has grown from recent studies by the scientist Antony Jensen at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, on the increased algae blooms that form in the summer in Poole Bay. These have a negative impact on wildlife, fish and human health, and proven links have been found with farm practice and food supply. Even organic food production has environmental impacts, witnessed by the algae blooms on the Sydling Water which runs past Cape Farewell’s HQ in Sydling St Nicholas and feeds into the Frome River, which, in turn, feeds into Poole Harbour. Cape Farewell wants this information to be part of our wider conversation about the relationship between food production and land use, water courses and the associated links to climate change.
Meet the Artists
Anna Frijstein
Artist whose practice evokes the bestial side of ‘socialised’ human beings
David Buckland
Artist, designer, film-maker, founder and international director of Cape Farewell
Adrian Newton
Professor in Conservation Ecology at Bournemouth University Adrian Newton is part of Cape Farewell’s RiverRun project, interrogating the environmental impact of Dorset farming on the rivers and waters of Poole…
“a way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation…”
Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce
Events
Take Me To The River
Saturday 12th March 2022 Held at Cape Farewell HQ, The Watershed, Sydling St Nicholas. Cape Farewell held a free science day workshop, where anyone could get involved with scientists ‘in the…
Work with scientists at Cape Farewell HQ- as part of Dorchester Science Festival
Saturday 12th March 2022 A unique opportunity to work with scientists ‘in the field’ as they conduct research at the Cape Farewell artists residency site north of Dorchester. We will…
RiverRun Exhibition
3 Nov–4 Dec 2021
Free RiverRun exhibition at Lighthouse Poole
Free RiverRun exhibition at Lighthouse Poole
wAteR-climaTe festival
An inspiring festival bringing climate science to life, timed to coincide with COP26
Recent events
For Earth’s Sake!
Wed 3 Nov 2021, 6:45pm
Performance by Anna Frijstein and Helen Moore
Performance by Anna Frijstein and Helen Moore
Wild Ways to Writing Workshop
25/26 Oct & 6 Nov 2021
Free two-day creative writing workshop with poet Helen Moore
Free two-day creative writing workshop with poet Helen Moore
See also
wAteR-climaTe festival
An inspiring festival bringing climate science to life, timed to coincide with COP26
SIRENS
A unique take on the climate emergency
Pollution Pods
An immersive installation by Michael Pinsky