Carlisle 2008-2010
Love Carlisle was established in February 2009 as part of a project Derek Eland was undertaking with Youth Teams and schools across Carlisle to help engage with them about the city; this work continues, with 8 youth teams having gone through the process and the Heathlands Trust work being an extension of this Youth Team work.
Works
Love Carlisle is an independent company with a trademarked brand - we have collaborated with both Carlisle Renaissance and Carlisle Tourism Partnership and continue to allow Carlisle Tourism to use this brand.
Love Carlisle is a not for profit organisation entirely run by volunteers and supported by funding and support in kind from a number of organisations including the Brathay Hall Trust, Carlisle Council, the Lanes, Carlisle Renaissance and others. This funding covers costs only.
The work started out as a residency by Derek Eland with Carlisle City Council which produced a large number of artworks, such as film, paintings, drawing and photography.
The project has involved collaboration with many artists, performers, bands, poets and venues.
It has involved the creation of a website for the project: www.lovecarlisle.co.uk
It initiated a city wide photography competition with the finalists exhibited in Tullie House Gallery in 2010.
Love Carlisle I and II exhibitions in 2009 involved artists who were engaged in issues about Carlisle or used Carlisle as a backdrop, using film, photography, installation, performance, sculpture and 2D works.
It has led to the creation of a cultural brand for the city was used as the theme for a ‘Love Carlisle Day’ and ‘Love Carlisle Fireshow’ with 30,000 visitors in November 2009.
It has also designed and presented an innovative big brother style ‘Diary Room’ where visitors could record to camera or write comments on their views on the city. Over two hours of edited footage and 4000 comments were collected in this way.
The ‘Diary Room’ installation is to be exhibited at Tullie House, Carlisle, between September and November 2010.
Love Carlisle continues to stimulate discussion about culture in the city, engage with the public and promote arts ventures.