Our projects
Chris and Frankie deliver creative ways outdoors on small and large scale projects, at local, national and international levels
We work jointly and independently as producers and project managers, but also enjoy wider challenges that attract collaborators and co-creators across a range of artforms, genres and intellects.
We continue to support our longtime partner
on a wide range of projects.
Crossing the Bar
A 3 year project, 2021-2023, in collaboration with New Carnival CIC, IW AONB, IW Ramblers and IW Walking Festival. Where walking meets art, coastal landscape and maritime heritage. Leading to national Year of the Coast celebrations and opening of the new National Trail - the England Coast Path - at 2800 miles!
Chris and Frankie have coordinated this project with a vast crew of artists, creative volunteers and heritage partners. The ultimate aim to animate the entire coastline of Isle of Wight for national celebrations in 2024/5. Lots of learning, schools and community engagement, free guided thematic walks and comissioned site specific installations and performances.
The event built year on year, with October 2023's programme focused on the Tennyson Heritage Coast, arguably the most spectacular and unspolit stretch of the Islands coastline.
Find out more about the Isle of Wight Heritage Coastline here https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/coast-and-country
As we move toward our finale event in 2024/25, plans are already in place for something rather special. Follow on below for update on Relay the Bay scheduled for October 2024 and Beach of Dreams in 2025!
Relay the Bay
October 11-12-13 2024
It’s a brand-new walking trail that heads off along the coast from Sandown to Shanklin and Ventnor (known as the BAY area) and then returns inland through rolling countryside passing Godshill, Newchurch and Brading. The route takes in some of the changing East Wight coastal footpath sections and passes through beautiful chalk downland and lesser explored river valleys, home to many rare plants, creatures and butterflies that together contribute to Isle of Wight’s celebrated role as an UNESCO BIOSPHERE RESERVE.
As the name suggests, this is a RELAY. In true Olympic fashion, the 'torch’ will be carried and passed at each of the six staging posts (towns/villages named above) before crossing the line at Yaverland near Sandown on Sunday afternoon 13 October to a welcome home celebration.
In fact, the ‘torch’ is the real star of the show. Six beautiful hand painted flags will be created by adult volunteers in local community settings in each of the six named towns and villages. The designs will be inspired by the heritage and natural environment of the local area. All six will be carried to the finish line on the final stretch of the trail.
RELAY THE BAY forms a progression from ‘Crossing the Bar’ outlined above. It is also a local taster for an upcoming national walking event led by Kinetika called ‘Beach of Dreams’ scheduled for May 2025. See: beachofdreams.org Kinetika: ‘Each step along the shore is a celebration of the natural beauty and cultural heritage that make our coastlines unique. Through art and community, we reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and imagine new possible climate futures for our coastlines’.
We invite you to take part in RELAY THE BAY 2024!
Join us as a walker, as a flag designer and maker, as a performer, or simply show up at one of the six Relay handover points to show your support and tell us what you would like to see at the 2025 event.
RELAY THE BAY trail sections:
The trail can be walked over the 3 days as a 26-mile hiking marathon, as three shorter (7-9 mile) day sections, or mix and match the individual half day legs, from 3 to 5 miles. The walks are guided, free to attend, and fun to take part in.
- Friday 11 Oct: Morning Walk Sandown to Shanklin; Afternoon Walk Shanklin to Ventnor
- Saturday 12 Oct: Morning Walk Ventnor to Godshill; Afternoon Walk Godshill to Newchurch
- Sunday 13 Oct: Morning Walk Newchurch to Brading; Afternoon Walk Brading to Sandown
Open Road Carnival
Chris and Frankie with New Carnival CIC recently led on an Arts Council England National Activities programme which uses the Social Model of Disability to improve access for D/deaf and disabled artists, participants and audiences
Open Road Carnival has collaborated with partners across academic and community-based organisations including University of Brighton, AEME (Association of Event Management Educators) and sector carnival leaders Callaloo Carnival Arts, EMCCAN, City Arts Nottingham, Art Shape and Alegria Samba School.
Informed by action research projects and the delivery of 3 national conferences, Chris and Frankie have now co-created a new online Resources Hub for the sector which is now published on New Carnival''s website. https://newcarnival.co.uk/the-open-road-carnival/
Creative Ways Outdoors will continue to advocate for, and promote awareness of, inclusive and accessible best practice at workshops, seminars and outdoor events, particularly for disabled people.
Green Days Carnival Club for Bridgwater Carnival
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival in Somerset is one of the largest, most spectacular, illuminated processions in Europe. Dating back to 1880, it is also the oldest carnival in this country. With thanks to Arts Council England and the Bridgwater Carnival Comittee, Creative Ways Outdoors were invited to work with Green Days Day Care for learning disabled adults to create a vibrant and colourful new troupe for Novemebr 2023
Over a 10 week period we collaborated to produce a 50 strong Rio-style entry for the night time parade. It was a blast! We laughed, made, rehearsed and performed to record crowds of 170,000 people!
Hats off to an amazing team of staff, volunteers and families of the group whose support, encouragement and incredible (and complex) logistical organisation on the night made everyone feel safe and able to give 110%!
IW Welcome Walks
with Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly AONB)
Chris and Frankie have long been allies and project delivery partners for our local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (now rebranded National Landscapes). For over two years we have been leading FREE public walks, mostly in the early evenings, highlighting some of the Island's finest landscapes and heritage.
The 2024 summer programme is running now, with a huge variety of walks and distances to choose from.
Look and Book here!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/isle-of-wight-national-landscape-summer-walks-3310929
National Children's Carnival Week
In 2021, in response to the pandemic and the second summer of cancelled LIVE events, Chris and Frankie launched National Children's Carnival Week with our friends and partners at UK Centre for Carnival Arts Luton. By July that year, mini parades in suprise locations were popping up all over the country and the NCCW has now become a national movement
National Children's Carnival Week goes from strength to strength as more schools and youth groups get involved and the network is growing exponentially.
In fact, National partners are so committed to developin.g and growing this vital intitaive, which aims to have real impact and enhance the lived experiences of young people and children wherever and whatever their circumstance, that they have elected to form an interim National Committee to raise funds to enable national events, conferences and touring. Working Title: National Childrens Carnival Network
The interim Chair of the group is our very own Chris, so if you are seeing this and are keen to find out more, please get in touch!
Talk to us about YOUR project needs and ideas. We have lots of creative ways to share!
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.