Float

PhD researcher Natasha Dawson worked in collaboration with Everyone Here, an Arts Council funded Creative People and Places programme in West Cumbria to create FLOAT- a project which celebrated the spirit of West Cumbrian Carnivals through creative activity, performance and exhibition.

FLOAT was part of Everyone Here’s Imagine Festival which is in its second year and is about celebrating Cumbrian creativity and togetherness.

Natasha was involved in developing the project and steering its direction from creation to completion along with citizen’s jury member Lynda Buckland and Everyone Here project developer Amy Clark.

Natasha also created the exhibition which showcased local memories, experiences and stories of West Cumbrian carnivals from the late 19th century to the present day through written interpretation, archival material, photographs, oral histories, and artefacts. Throughout the research process Natasha worked with Whitehaven Archives and local community groups to source materials for the exhibition and engaged with local people and their memories of carnivals in the area. 

Partners in the project involved community groups in creative activity and performance. For example, visual artist Janice Murray worked with two primary schools and their surrounding communities to create four carnival costumes and a replica carnival float. In addition, movement artist Katy Higgins worked with one of the schools to create carnival themed performances which took place on the Saturday of the festival.

The project was a fantastic opportunity for Natasha to create connections and work with partners in the local cultural and creative sector and to develop skills in archival research, exhibition creation, oral history interviewing, event organisation, and partnership working. The exhibition also forms a key case study in Natasha’s PhD, and she conducted visitor questionnaires and gathered feedback cards for which will contribute to this.

Title: Float

Partners: Everyone Here, Lynda Buckland, Janice Murray, Stefan Escreet, Katy Higgins, University of Lancashire, Westlakes Research Ltd.

Year: 2025-2026

Funders: Art Council England, University of Lancashire, Westlakes Research Ltd, Cumberland Council.

Contributors: Whitehaven U3A, Whitehaven Welcome Hub members, The Cowper School of Dance, St Josephs Primary School, Flimby Primary School, Whitehaven Archive and Local Studies Centre, Whitehaven Brass Band, Goodlives.

Location: Whitehaven, Cumbria.

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