Pele Tower artists in residence appeal for submissions for art newspaper inspired by Cresswell landmark

Beth J Ross and Sarah Cooper’s latest initiative in their role asks local people to be inspired by the restored tower and its grounds to create something visual.

Beth said: “We just felt it would be a really nice way of connecting with people. In itself, we are hoping it will be a piece of art.

“We will have it freely available through the tower but also in cafes and through the community centres and things, and it is really a celebration of everybody.”

Anything will be accepted as long as it can be photographed, even mediums such as sandcastles that are not typically thought of as fine art. The deadline for submissions, by emailing [email protected], is Tuesday, October 31.

Beth said: “We just want to celebrate all creativity. Pretty much anything goes.

“Go and have a look around Cresswell, just do something, and send it in.”

Beth and Sarah have reached out to local schools, and hope to include work from their pupils in the newspaper.

They also hope to run some art workshops in schools in the coming months, and also have their sights set on a second issue of the newspaper, possibly focused on written creative works, some time next year.

Steve Lowe, a volunteer and events coordinator at Cresswell Pele Tower, hopes these projects can draw on people’s memories of the tower and provide a record for people in the future.

He said: “What we found at the tower is that in trying to piece together the story, we are having to go by bits and bobs of written information and nobody has actually got too much of it.

“Quite a lot of the work we have been able to do has been based on drawings, things that people have put together themselves and left in posterity, and if we could do a little bit of that it would be fantastic.”

Beth praised the “incredible” work that has been done to restore the tower, and said she felt art is a “big part” of the volunteer team’s vision for the future.

Additional projects, such as using the tower as a gallery space and the hosting of an arts and crafts fair, are also part of these plans.

The walled garden, which is nearing completion thanks to grant funding, will allow for even more art events to take place.

Steve said: “You can actually see a huge change in people's attitudes. We have got people coming along that do reenactments and things like this.

“They are using the pele tower as an opportunity to express themselves, as an opportunity to teach people.”

Steve hopes the benefits of the residency can continue beyond the year they currently have funds for.

He said: “I think it is fair to say that we have plans to do a lot more. Obviously we are grateful for the funding, but what we would like to do if we possibly can is get this set up so it continues in the future.”