Festival of Ideas: Nature Unseen

What is nature if you cannot see it? How high is the cedar tree when the eyes cannot climb its boughs? What are the sounds that gather around you in the blue dawn of a summer morning?

There are traditions of thinking about landscapes as seen. We recognise this in landscape paintings and how we stand and “view” nature.

This event invites you into the world of sight impaired collaborators and their experiences of Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in the heart of Sussex and home to the Millennium Seed Bank. 

Immerse yourself in a soundscape composition, feel along a tactile forest crafted with foraged nature, and meet the collaborators in a Q+A. You will leave inspired to think and feel differently about ‘nature’.

The event encourages you to engage your non-visual senses in what is a predominantly visual world. Through a composition of sounds and textures, you are invited into a deeper connection with nature and art beyond traditional visual engagement.

We are a group of artists and multidisciplinary researchers collaborating on a project based at the University of Sussex exploring pathways to inclusion in the heritage sector through the arts. This research project is led by Dr Karis Jade Petty, Assistant Professor in Anthropology at the University of Sussex. The soundscape is composed by Chris Sciacca, an American sound artist and practice-based researcher specialising in sonic ethnography and soundscape composition. The diverse landscapes and sounds at Wakehurst provided the setting for this collaborative project. 

This is a photographed and filmed event. Please note that this event has been extended until 7pm.

Lead Researcher and Co-Producer: Dr Karis Jade Petty  

Co-Producer, Composer, Sound Recordist and Technician: Chris Sciacca 

Research Assistant and Production Support: Maisie Farnham  

Coordinator and Inclusion Consultant: Iris [last name omitted]. 

Business Partnerships Manager, University of Sussex: Anne-Fay Townsend 

Participation Manager, Wakehurst: Harri Oliver 

Event Technician: AlanBob Smith  

Inclusive Artist: Dr Hannah Macpherson 

Collaborators: Alfie Penfold; Angie Lim-Umpleby; Bella Kneebone; Guillermo Romero; Iris [last name omitted]; Jacqui Campbell; Keith Turner; Sacha Latham; Gathering The Light Choir; Abigail Gyamfi; Alex Berry; Anna Dewis; Anne Kneebone; Catherine Elias; Helena Skoog; Jane Marrine; Jingjie Yao; Sophia Loukaides; Sophie Magalhaes; Xinglan Wu; Yu ChuChun 

Sighted Guiding Trainers: James Langley and Alex Berry  

Festival of Ideas Producer: Lauren Church  

Production Manager, Fabrica: Valerie Furnham  

Arts and Humanities Research Coordinator, Wakehurst: Caroline Cornish 

Participation Coordinator, Wakehurst: Eliana Van Der Shraft  

Co-Director, Fabrica: Liz Whitehead 

Office and Communications Coordinator, Fabrica: Petra Giffard 

Research Development Manager, University of Sussex: Fergal Raftery  

Assistant Research Manager, University of Sussex: Carol Anderson  

Partners:

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, is home to 535 acres of biodiverse landscapes and the Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of wild seeds. Wakehurst combines scientific research, horticultural innovation and immersive experiences to inspire curiosity about the natural world. Through inclusive programmes and workshops, Wakehurst connects diverse communities with nature in new and meaningful ways.

East Sussex Vision Supportis a charity based in East Sussex that aims to increase the independence, confidence and wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people and also work to promote the understanding of sight loss and its challenges in local communities, businesses, schools and organisations.  

Blatchington Court Trust aims to support, inform and empower young people with sight loss under the age of 30 and their families throughout Sussex. Their services are life changing and Blatchington Court Trust are proud to work with incredible young people and their families to make positive change. 

Fabricais a space where everyone can take part in the arts. At Fabrica, visitors can experience culture and creativity in unexpected ways: through our ever-changing calendar of talks, group discussions, film screenings, performances and community-led events. Our year-round programme of creative workshops provide opportunities for all ages to work across disciplines including sculpture, printmaking, drawing and textiles, to support learning and increase wellbeing.