THE hidden gems of Morecambe Bay are uncovered in a brand-new exhibition, opening in Barrow this weekend.

Stuff presents recent Art Gene projects reflecting on research around the social, natural and built environment, uncovering the "Seldom Seen" assets of the region.

The exhibition, which opens at the Nan Tait Centre with a private viewing alongside a map and app launch on Saturday October 29, considers the complexity of what makes a place, reflecting on its histories, the people and the shape it makes for its future.

Through the work of artists Hannah Brackston, Jacob Cartwright, Nick Jordan, PAN Studio, Jeni McConnell, Charlie MacKeith and Art Gene co-founders Maddi Nicholson and Stuart Bastik, Stuff presents Fort Walney Uncovered.Art Gene’s Heritage Lottery-funded art and archaeology work in partnership with Natural England, is an investigation into the changing landscape of North Walney - recycled over time by government and industry but still a flourishing environment for wildlife.
Maddi Nicholson setting up the exhibition

One for Sorrow, a non-civic war memorial produced by Art Gene, will be on display in the gallery before being installed within the landscape. The gate will form an entrance to Natural England’s North Walney nature reserve near to the rifle range and practice trenches of the Fort Walney training camp, dating back to the First and Second World Wars.

Saturday evening is also the launch of the Seldom Seen: Islands of Barrow map and Fort Walney Uncovered mobile app. As part of a suite entitled Seldom Seen, the illustrated map details current and historic points of interest, including internationally significant nature reserves and places of more surprising ecological importance, alongside sites of industrial endeavour and key figures who have left their mark on the town and its islands.


Seldom Seen maps The Mobile App, when downloaded to a phone or tablet, allows the walker to navigate the North Walney nature reserve whilst being provided with film or audio about the site. Triggered by GPS at points of interest, the device wakes up and provides the voice of local people, with memories of the camp, the Natural England reserve warden, the archaeologist who undertook the dig of the trenches and local Barrow residents.

Also on show are the hides for South Walney Nature reserve - two new hides for Cumbria Wildlife’s South Walney reserve, which have been designed and made by Art Gene.

Guest speakers at the Stuff preview night include: George Nash, archaeologist and lead on the Fort Walney uncovered dig; John Nixon, writer and historian; Albert Benson, a contributor to the mobile app walking tour; Deborah Best from Arts Council England; Bart Donato from Natural England; and the Morecambe Bay Partnership.

Following Saturday's preview, which runs from 7pm to 10pm, Stuff will remain open at the Nan Tait Centre until Wednesday November 9.