ARTISTS in Cumbria are being invited to contribute to a record of the coronavirus lockdown.

A book of works inspired by the historic events of 2020 will raise money to support grassroots arts and the county’s National Health Service.

The project, entitled ‘Dreaming through the locking glass’, is aimed at creating a record of what Cumbrian artists did during the lockdown.

The Green Door group of Artists and the Eden Valley Artistic Network are already signed up to the project, which is the brainchild of David Felton, founder of publishers Inspired by Lakeland, based at Skelwith Bridge.

He said: “The coronavirus lockdown has been devastating to many Cumbrian artists and small businesses.

“At the same time, the lockdown has been a chance to slow down, reflect, and engage with a much smaller area around us.

“The county has a record of resilience to events like Foot and Mouth and Storm Desmond. This is an opportunity for artists to respond with original artwork to create a unique historic record.”

“‘Dreaming through the locking glass’ is designed to be a creative response to these confined times, and we’re calling on artists of all disciplines throughout Cumbria – painting, illustration, poetry, prose, photography, print-making, textiles, ceramics – to create an original piece of work that captures their personal experience of life during lockdown.”

Simon Whalley, independent artist and founder/director of EVAN, said: “EVAN are fully behind the project because it is great for local artists to be given an opportunity to express themselves at the moment.

“EVAN supports artists at a grassroots level and this project creates a focus for individuals as well as contributing to our valuable NHS and local communities.”

Janice Benson, Green Door Administrator, said: “Cumbria is, quite rightly, famous for the quality of its culture and this book is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity of our artists at a time when they can’t exhibit their work.

“The project will be a piece of history and we’re honoured to have been invited to take part.”

The book’s Windermere-based print broker, Latitude, has also waived its commission so that more money can be given to the NHS and local arts organisations.

Submissions will be selected down to a shortlist for a 144-page book. Each artwork will feature alongside a short description of the work; the artist’s wider art; and how life has changed for them – personally and creatively – under lockdown.

The summary briefing says the response might by a distant view, a recollection of the days before lockdown, words wrestling between confinement and imaginative freedom, recognition of the value of our health workers, a localised view of neighbourhood seen through new eyes… whatever the situation inspires the artist to create.

Profits from sales of the book - which will be available county and nationwide - will be split between local NHS trusts and local artistic groups, including Green Door, Space2Create and Eden Valley Artistic Network.

It is anticipated art from this project will also become an exhibition in 2021.

Deadline for submitting work is midnight, Friday, May 29, 2020. For further details and submission guidelines, see: www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/post/dreaming-through-the-locking-glass