The Long View: 
Art, a sense of place, belonging and reciprocity in relation to landscape.

New Forest 20 / 21 Sept 2024

A conference exploring themes of place, people and natural landscapes in relation to access to land, National Parks, Public Art Collections and collective acts of ecological care. It seeks to re-examine and radically reposition the role that art can play in this time of climate and nature crisis, moving beyond human-centred meaning and extractive narratives of nature in art and wider cultures of landscapes. 

Taking place in a treehouse venue within a New Forest woodland this two-day conference dwelled upon the urgent intersections of art and landscapes in a time of ecological crisis. Exploring:  

  • Histories and future possibilities of place-based art and historic landscape painting in relation to social advocacy for nature preservation. 

  • Collective and commoning activity as acts of connection, kinship and stewardship.

  • Values of National Parks and Art Collections in belonging to publics and fostering care.

  • Long Views: climate crisis timelines, landscapes viewed from afar, actions beyond a human life span… 

Alongside presentations and panel discussions the two-day conference also included outdoor sessions, exhibited artworks in Long View(s) and the launch of dAi (digital-Art-index) New Forest edition. The conference convened academics, artists and professionals who are interested in taking part in urgent debate and discussion around these ideas.

  • Contributors include: Kirsty Badenoch (The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL) + Liam Healy (University of Sheffield), David Blandy, Dr Trevor Borg (University of Malta), Constanza Dessain (UWE Bristol), Glassball Studio (Cora Glasser and David Ball), Bo Lanyon (UWE Bristol),  Laura Harrington +  Fiona MacDonald, Dr Marielle Hehir (University of Leeds),  Jennifer Irving, Melanie Jackson (Royal College of Art and University of Plymouth), Jim Mitchell (New Forest National Park), Stephen Nelson  ( Museo d arte Contemporanea Cogliandrino), Dr Colin Perry (Arts University Bournemouth), Lucy Schmid, Dan Shipsides (Belfast School of Art), Dr Rosemary Shirley (University of Leicester), Dr Angela Summerfield.

    Keynote Speaker:
    Kate Soper - Emerita Professor of Philosophy at London Metropolitan University and recently authored Post-Growth Living: For an Alternative Hedonism, Verso, 2020.

    Co-convenors:
    Dr Melanie Rose (West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and University of Leeds) and Laura Eldret (More Than Ponies and UWE Bristol)  

  • View images from the conference below and more details on contributors in the conference papers ↓↓

  • Explore Long View(s) the exhibition here

  • We are working towards a resulting publication from the conference to be released in 2025.

This conference was initiated by artist Dr Melanie Rose, Postdoctoral Fellow 2023-24 at the University of Leeds Arts and Humanities Institute (LAHRI). It is a joint endeavour with artist Laura Eldret who is currently undertaking a PhD at UWE Bristol exploring commoing, ecology and social practice.

The conference was made possible with funding from Leverhulme Trust, presented in partnership with New Forest National Park Authority and More Than Ponies. With thanks to all contributors, their supporting institutions and those who purchased tickets to attend.

↑ conference papers

↑ Watch artist videos screened as part of The Long View conference - Sarah Misselbrook, Outside Inside the Forest, 2019 and Kasia Garapich, Excursion, 2024. View conference papers for more info.

Photos by Dan Weill


Getting here:

  • The venue is a pair of treehouses in Beaulieu, New Forest immersed within a woodland landscape run by the Countryside Education Trust. What 3 words: trombone voting cocktail .

  • All parking and taxi drop off for the venue is at Beaulieu Motor Museum. Note sat navs may try to direct you to the treehouse from the North DO NOT DO THIS as you will encounter an overgrown track with extensive pot holes etc. which is unsuitable for most cars.

  • You will need to allow 10 minutes to walk up the track to the venue. Follow the signs for the study centre to the left of the motor museum reception building.

  • If you have additional access needs please let us know when booking.

  • The nearest train station to the venue is Beaulieu Road. However you may also wish to look at Ashurst and Brockenhurst train station which are on the mainline. Recommended taxi companies are both called New Forest Taxis confusingly (one is based in Ashurst and one in New Milton). There are various accomodation options from campsites to high end hotels. 

Other important info:

  • Tickets grant access to both days of the symposium. Please note that this is an in-person event.

  • Conference timings are Friday 20 September 10am – 6.30pm and  Saturday 21 Sept 10am - 3.30pm.

  • Tickets include a sandwich lunch both days and campfire supper ( pizza and wine) on Friday. Tea and coffee also provided.

  • Please bring your own refillable water bottle and camping mug for coffee/wine if you can.  

  • The venue is within a woodland and some sessions will be outside regardless of weather. We advise you to dress for warm, wet and/or cold weather and bring walking boots/ wellies to navigate muddy outdoors.

  •  Please be tick aware. 

  • Wifi and phone connection can be limited at the venue. If you have any other query please email mail@morethanponies.info