Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World

CCANW is an innovative arts and ecology centre which uses the arts to show ways of living more sustainably within nature. Launched in 2006, it has established itself as the UK’s first organization of its kind with a year-round programme of exhibitions, forums and seminars, live events, workshops and artists’ residencies.

Exploring our changing place within Nature through the Arts, part gallery - part studio, there is a changing programme of exhibitions, projects, artist residencies, live events and activities in the forest. The Project Space is the first phase of a partnership with the Forestry Commission for this innovative educational charity. Open year-round (closed Mondays).

CCANW’s policy is to ensure maximum access for all sections of society. Our intention is to significantly increase access to the arts by breaking down physical, psychological and intellectual barriers, working with different communities, embracing cultural diversity and social inclusion.
The Centre aims to attract at least 60,000 visitors a year, yet engage its local, regional, national and international audiences in different ways. Artists, students, young people, families, the rural community, disabled people, those from different cultural backgrounds and socially deprived areas will be particularly encouraged to become involved.

It will provide an important platform for the work of established and emerging artists. It will also create new art and art practice by supporting artists to respond to the specific historical, culture and ecological features of the landscape and to position such responses within a local national and global context. Project spaces, a studio and accommodation will be used for long and short-term projects, residences and commissions.