Our project goal is to evolve European Stone Stacking Championships into a town wide, week long Land Art Festival.
by James Craig Page in Dunbar, East Lothian Council, United Kingdom
The extra funds raised would go towards creating Land Art Workshops, free of charge to disadvantaged children and young adults. Working closely with families who stuggle with poverty and local community groups dealing with mental health & well being issues with teenagers and adults. The funds would help meet the ongoing costs involved in expanding the festival and potentially taking this format out to other countries around Europe.
I’m James Craig Page an artist based in the small town of Dunbar on the east coast of Scotland near Edinburgh. Over the years my artistic practice led me to stone stacking. This is a meditative artistic skill which can be practiced anywhere. With a rapidly growing following in many countries, stone stacking utilises materials found in nature, creating balances using nothing more than the natural magnetic pull of the Earth. In these rather uncertain times more and more people are coming to appreciate the therapeutic benefits of it.
In 2016 along with my friend, Steven Hill we decided to create the John Muir Stone stacking Challenge in Dunbar, An open event to welcome the public to take part for themselves. Since that time the event has evolved and grown into a widely respected Land Art festival, that each year draws ever larger crowds and now incorporates the European Stone Stacking Championships.
Artist Caroline Walker stacking stones at the 2021 event
This festival is a forum to connect artists and communities from around the world in Scotland, to share in a collective experience that is about forging friendships, working relationships and positive connections, during what is a very challenging and isolating time for many. In a bid to provide an environment that connects people to nature and each other as a pivotal and vital part of healing society, allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to share this experience.
Land Artists from around the world at the 2019 event
The event not only brings renowned nature artists from over 13 countries to Dunbar each year, but has also garnered some remarkable publicity across the globe including a large amount of television, radio and newspaper coverage. At each years festival in Dunbar there are many separate competitions ending with the over all winner receiving a free flight and place at the World Rock Stacking Championships in Llano, Texas USA.
As well as the professional artists, the public are encouraged to also take part in a number of events. The past festivals have been very popular across the board but especially with families. The act of creating on the beach comes so naturally to children it’s one situation they forget about their phones and reconnect to nature.
Despite the tremendous challenges brought by Covid the event still managed to go ahead in 2021, albeit with fewer international visitors.
Crowds enjoying the sun and live art creation at Eye Cave Beach, Dunbar in 2019
With your support, this years 2022 festival aims to be bigger and better than ever with many additional events that are incorporated into our rebranded European Land Art Festival (ELAF). The event this summer runs from July 4th - 10th and includes the following;
Clearly all of this involves a great deal of organisation and expense. Each year has been a real challenge to fund, often relying on generous anonymous donations to be able to go ahead. So we’re looking for as much support as possible.
Our project is part of the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch - we are 1 of 20 shortlisted creative projects in Scotland - that have the opportunity to win a share of £80,000 in match funding, up to £10,000 per project.
If we manage to reach our financial goal (which we must!) those funds will be matched by Creative Scotland which would make a huge difference to us. So please watch our film and consider helping to make our event be as ambitious and joyful as we know it can be.
Art by James Craig Page
Art by Laurence Winram
Art by Laurence Winram
Artist Laurence Winram offers 2 x A3 prints from his Winram Gallery as one of the rewards.
Art by Mark Antony Hayden Ford
This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.