TESTING THE IDEA
Phase One
Family friendly sail design workshops, a touring exhibition and a prototype sail to be installed at Salthouse Fields in Clevedon.
About phase one
Phase One will be about testing the idea. This phase will result in the creation of a prototype sail structure, designed in consultation with structural engineers and other experts. A series of workshops, involving local people, led by local artist, Sam Francis have produced a wealth of images that will be used to inspire a design for the sails.
The structure will be installed at Salthouse Fields, Clevedon, and as part of a launch event the sails will be unfurled by members of the community as part of a sail-raising event. The sails will remain in place at Clevedon for a month.
Phase One will also engage and consult with local people about the wider project, through a touring exhibition and series of workshops at local libraries across North Somerset. An interpretation board with info about the project and links to the website and consultation questionnaire will accompany the sails.
By involving people who live and work in and around the North Somerset Levels, Phase One aims to build support from the community & other stakeholders for the roll out the sails across the landscape in Phase Two
AUTUMN / winter 2024/25
Prototyping
Central to this phase will also be designing and building between a prototype sail structure. This will involve working closely with the structural engineers, local fabricators, installation company and local authority safety officers. Through this process we will develop a functional and affordable structure that can be reproduced multiple times for Phase Two. The installation at Salthouse Fields, as well as getting the word out about the project, will also be an opportunity to test the structures out in the wind and rain.
SUMMER/ autumn 2024
Sail design workshops
A series of free workshops at local libraries, lead by North Somerset based artist, Sam Francis gave local people of all ages, the opportunity to help develop vivid, designs for the sails. (In phase 2 the sails will probably be plain white to stand out against the landscape from a distance) The final design for Phase One will use colours. imagery, and text that that emerged out of the workshops.
spring 2025
Flotilla exhibitions & survey
An exhibition about the project will tour 4 libraries on the edge of the North Somerset Levels: Nailsea, Yatton, Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare. The exhibitions will tell the Flotilla story. The exhibitions will incorporate a paper survey and a QR code link to the online survey. This will be an opportunity to get feedback on the proposals for Phase Two which we can use as we take the project forward.
More info to follow…
spring 2025
Sail Raising Event
A sail raising event will reveal the final sail designed by sam along with participants at the workshops. The sail will be unfurled, displaying the design for the first time. Everyone who came along to the sail design workshops will be invited along. If the weather is good, there will also be a picnic and other launch events.
More info to follow…
