Fabrica and ONCA have been partners in The Living Coast (Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere) for almost a decade. Since 2021, they have co-produced six separate paid, TLC-focused, artist residencies, each advertised via an open call. Earlier this year ONCA and the Sussex Humanities Lab (University of Sussex) commissioned Daisy Stewart-Darling for the Multispecies Flourishing residency, whilst Fabrica and Dr Catherine Kelly (University of Brighton) commissioned Emma Chow for the Stream to Sea residency.

These two research-funded residencies have provided the opportunity for ONCA and Fabrica to review the focus and direction of these small-scale commissions, including how they can directly contribute to The Living Coast delivering on its goals, and what support the commissioners* could provide to help artists make stronger proposals for these commissions.

Fabrica Co-Director Liz Whitehead and Susuana Amoah, Head of Programme, ONCA will host Developing a Creative Biosphere. We want to understand how artists are currently engaging with the work of The Living Coast, and if we can improve on that. We also want to understand what kinds of support would be useful for artists who want to align their artistic practices more closely to the Biosphere’s goals. At the Stream to Sea sharing session in July, a clear appetite emerged from artists in the room to:

• engage more effectively with the Biosphere, for example by drawing in the scientific aspects of TLC’s work into their artistic practice and into workshop design with public audiences

• connect with other artists, makers and writers in TLC who are engaging with Nature and its conservation.

We would like to test and develop these suggestions with a larger pool of interested artists.

*Although ONCA will be closing its doors in January 2025, Fabrica remains committed to commissioning artists in partnership with The Living Coast. The discussions that take place at this event will directly inform Fabrica’s strategy for this strand of commissioning, and its work to support artists.