Roots and Relics: James Murch - Geopark Artist Residency

Preserving the Legacy of Torre Abbey

Natural and Human-Induced Threats and the Need for Intervention

The Geopark Artist Residency programme is a series of artist residencies delivered by Artizan Collective in partnership with Torre Abbey and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, that aims to reveal narratives about our Geopark home through the creation of four new collections of work produced by Devon based visual artists and creative professionals. The work create will showcase aspects of our globally significant Geopark designation in new and exciting ways.

Artist James Murch, through his established plein air practice, explores the challenges that threaten the survival of heritage buildings like Torre Abbey and what happens when nature takes over. An immersive final installation will include large scale paintings that celebrate the diversity and significance of the environments within the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, whilst also capturing the relationship between these environments and Torbay’s most historic building complex.

Opening days and times - James Murch - Geopark Artist Residency Opening Days and Times - Artizan Torbay (art-hub.co.uk)

James' in-person studio residency in the Learning Lab at Torre Abbey forms part of a six-month project along with three other artists, Rachael Allain, Gill Melling and Laura Segan, each of whom will be independently exploring their own chosen narrative with English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark partners and associate partners, as well as audiences from across Torbay.

For more information on the wider projects visit: www.art-hub.co.uk/ex/geoparkresidencies

During his time at Torre Abbey, we invite you to visit James to view works in progress, and to contribute to the ongoing conversations.

This programme is funded as part of the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme by Torbay Culture via National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment, and is additionally supported by Museum Estate Development Fund using public funds by Arts Council England, the Cultural Assets Fund (CAF); a government funding stream, administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), to protect treasured heritage assets in England from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic alongside match funding from Torbay Council and the Friends of Torre Abbey (FOTA). The Geopark Artist Residencies are coordinated by Artizan Collective CIC in partnership with Torre Abbey and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark.