Origins and Vision
Turning the Tide was a powerful, eco-conscious art and storytelling project that connected people to the sea, to memory, and to each other. Running from September 2023 to March 2024, it brought together creativity, environmental awareness, and community participation through the ancient craft of papermaking—reimagined with a sustainable twist.
A Sea of Stories on Recycled Paper
At the heart of the project was the creation of handmade, eco-friendly paper, crafted using recycled materials. Participants embedded their personal memories of the sea, along with poetry, reflections, and images, into the paper itself. What made these creations truly special was their use of natural dyes—made from fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices—to draw, paint, and print stories of salt air, tides, and coastal life.
Celebrated poet Ann Grant worked with a wide range of local groups, guiding them in the writing process and helping to capture the emotional and sensory depth of their experiences by the shore. These memories and images were not just preserved on paper—they were brought full circle when the artworks were returned to the sea at Earnse Bay, a symbolic act of connection, renewal, and letting go.
Culminating Event at Earnse Bay
The project reached its high point in a joyful and inclusive community celebration at Earnse Bay. The event gathered together participants, partners, and the wider public for a vibrant day of creativity, nature, and coastal awareness.
Highlights of the event included:
Participation from CancerCare, the Deaf Club, and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Water safety demonstrations by Dalton Leisure Centre and the RNLI
Needle felting workshops
Live music performances
A sand sculpture competition
Collaborative activities with the Wordsworth Trust
Together, these activities celebrated both artistic expression and environmental stewardship, reinforcing the themes of connection—to place, to community, and to nature.
Supporting a Good Cause
In addition to its creative and environmental aims, Turning the Tide also had a charitable heart. Through the DiscoBall Fest, the project raised funds for CancerCare, supporting people in the community affected by cancer.
Funded By
This beautiful and multi-faceted project was made possible with funding from the Heritage Lottery Micro-Mighty grant—supporting small but impactful community-led heritage projects.
Turning the Tide was more than a creative workshop—it was an invitation to reflect, remember, and reconnect with the natural world and each other. Through art, storytelling, and environmental engagement, it left a lasting imprint on both the people who participated and the shores they honoured.
