Lift the Lid on Island Culture
About Lift the Lid
Lift the Lid was a 2 year project, led by the IWCEP which aimed to reignite a sense of pride and passion in cultural heritage on the Isle of Wight. The project involved four artist-led commissions across the Island, in Ventnor, Newport, East Cowes and Totland.
Lift the Lid on Island Culture was supported by Arts Council England, Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Artswork Ltd, amongst others.
Partners, Venues and Artists
Key partners were Quay Arts, Ventnor Exchange, Mountbatten Hospice, The Classic Boat Museum and Totland Parish Council. Many Primary schools from across the Island were involved, working with artists, beginning their Artsmark journey and joining in with Arts Awards.
In Newport, activity from BearFace Theatre focused on both the Pan estate involving pupils from Barton Primary School, Mountbatten Hospice, and the WOW (Women on Wight) Centre in workshops and performances. ‘We that Breathe‘ was a collaboratively produced show, exploring the unique folklore the of the Isle of Wight, and its geographical and historical landscape.
In East Cowes, a documentary film was produced by Dmitri Galitzine, called Back and Forth, following discussions and interviews with many of the local community. The film captures reflections on the town, and its role as a gateway to the Island.
In Ventnor, the street artist Phlegm created a fantastical creature, locally known as the Ventnor Giant. The work has inspired local children to write and perform their own stories, and a new legend has been born.
In Totland, Julie Myers brought together the community for a celebration of local history, local science, the arts and the environment through The Great Light and Dark Show. The day involved many artists, local organisations and school children.
Find out more about the project and view the art created by artists and children on the Lift the Lid Artists Notebook website.
Activities and Resources
Through the project various resources were developed around Arts Award Explore. Local artists, Hannah George and Ian Whitmore created a bespoke Arts Award Explore portfolio template and arts activities related to cultural venues across the Island.
Discover Lift the Lid education resources.