The (Future) Wales Coast Path is a yearlong series of creative events and installations guided by artist Alison Neighbour, exploring the impact sea level rise could have on the coastline of Wales, and our relationship to land and water. In the project Alison will collaborate with local communities living within the future intertidal zones of Newport and Magor, local climate scientists and with experts in the Sundarbans where sea level rise is already a daily threat.
The project seeks to raise awareness of the impermanence of the land many of us take for granted, and to open up a conversation about flooding, sea level rise, and adaptation in Newport and beyond.
Communities are invited to walk together within the future inter-tidal zone, to document, share stories, and begin conversations about the future of this place as we seek to acknowledge and adapt to our shifting coastline.
Through these creative walks and gatherings the project will consider how we adapt to a changing landscape and end with the creation of a multi-platform “Guidebook for the Future” made from the contributions of walkers throughout the year. Walkers can join the events or walk in their own time, and are invited to share their journeys and discoveries. The project is also looking for a group of “Lighthouse Keepers” to be walking buddies with walkers in the Indian Sundarbans. In April two lighthouses will appear on the possible future shoreline, in Magor Square and in Newport, connecting us via their lights to the tides of the Sundarbans, and serving as a warning and a gathering place for future action.
Alison Neighbour comments ‘The idea of this lighthouse came from a desire to sound the alarm, to start a conversation, to connect people to think about how we can adapt to the future. I wanted to physicalise this idea of impermanent land in the landscape itself, so that it can be felt in a way that a map or a newspaper article can’t offer. It is intended as a point of convergence, a place for encounter, and a site of pilgrimage, from the past shoreline to the future.’
The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre is delighted to be supporting The (Future) Wales Coastal Footpath project this February and hosting a free workshop during half term. On Friday 25 February there will be a free Creative Mapping Workshop at The Riverfront which is open to the public plus invited participants from local groups.
In this workshop participants will get the opportunity to create their own maps of the past, present, and future intertidal zone of Newport, the area where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. Inspired by watery myths about the local area, and using collage-style maps that will help participants think about adapting to the future. The workshop will also include a short walk along the river for inspiration. For information and tickets please contact Danielle.rowlands@newportlive.co.uk
About the project, The Riverfront’s Education and Participation Officer Danielle Rowlands comments ‘We are really excited to be supporting this project that links communities to our amazing coastal footpath. Alison’s work is both beautiful and thought provoking, using creativity to engage people with the pressing issues of climate change.’
This project has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council Wales, Living Levels, Newport Fusion, Support in kind from Pervasive Media Studio and Severn Estuary Partnership.
To find out more about the workshop at The Riverfront visit newportlive.co.uk/Riverfront. More information about The (Future) Wales Coast Path can be found at http://alisonneighbourdesign.com/work-in-progress/the-future-wales-coast-path/. To get involved please email Futurewalescoast@gmail.com.
