Somerset Reacquainted

‘Somerset Reacquainted’ started during the 1st Lockdown and evolved as a platform for research and critical dialogues for Somerset artists, as part of our Artist Development Programme.

Somerset Reacquainted started from conversations between Sara Dudman and Zoe Li from Somerset Art Works at the beginning of the 1st lockdown in 2020. Responding the challenges artists were facing, the project encouraged artists to refresh their engagement with nature, locality and community, using ideas of reacquaintance as a starting point to discover and re-discover excitement and purpose in their artistic practice.63 artists took part in the project, through a process of cascaded invitation, issued by artists to artists. All participating artists created ‘something to share’ on our website and Instagram, and were invited to attend regular Zoom meetings. Somerset Reacquainted soon became a platform for artists to share their ideas and thoughts during that time, reflecting their personal and unique approaches, their work-in-progress, their processes and journeys of artistic exploration and experimentation.

The initial online sharing was extended to an exhibition at Somerset Rural Life Museum, alongside a series of online activities for family and a podcast programme.

Somerset Reacquainted Brewhouse Exhibition

The project evolved beyond the 1st lockdown and more artists were involved throughout 2020-22 through Monthly & Weekly Sharing Meetings, Collaborative Book Projects and the Somerset Reacquainted Tour, an exhibition programme across 6 venues in Somerset.

To find out more, please visit Somerset Reacquainted 2020-22

‘Somerset Reacquainted was the right thing at the right time. A supportive group with engaged participants that led to lots of new work, conversations and collaborations.’