Stakeholder Gathering Sparks Creativity and Connection

Today, staff, stakeholders, and local voices came together at the University of Hull for a lively afternoon filled with discussion, creativity, and reflection, marking the formal launch of the South Holderness Eco-Arts Project. Hosted by the Centre for Applied Research in the Arts and the Centre for Performance, Technology, and Aesthetics. The event united an inspiring range of speakers and participants to celebrate the Spurn Peninsula and the surrounding coastal areas of South Holderness. Together, we explored the cultural, historical, and environmental significance of these communities—and marveled at their resilience in the face of ever-changing landscapes.

The day kicked off with warm welcomes, plenty of coffee, tea, cakes, and lots of great conversation. It was a perfect chance to catch up with familiar faces, meet new ones, and share our passion for the future of this remarkable region.

Magnus Johnson and Anna Fitzer’s opening talk, ‘Why Spurn and the South Holderness Coast?’ set the stage for a series of engaging presentations in a first session that was filled with insight. Jan Crowther’s talk on ‘The People of Spurn from the 7th to the 21st Century’ showed Jan’s deep knowledge – and her obvious love for the area shone through, giving us a vivid sense of how Spurn’s communities have shifted and adapted across the centuries. Following Jan, Emily Robinson and Kathryn Maude transported us back in time to explore the lost town of Ravenser Odd—a medieval city that received its royal charter on the same day as Hull, but is now long submerged beneath the waves—a powerful reminder of how fragile and dynamic these coastal landscapes can be.

After a short break, it was time to get creative! With markers in hand, we mapped out our personal connections to Easington, Kilnsea, and Spurn on a giant map of the South Holderness coast. It was a fun, interactive way to share our own stories and experiences of the area, adding an extra personal dimension to the discussions.

In the afternoon, we were treated to more thought-provoking presentations. Mark Slater’s ‘Listening to a Landscape’ got us thinking about how sound shapes our connection to place, while Phil Mathison took us through centuries of human involvement with Spurn in his talk, ‘The Spurn Peninsula and Human Interaction over the Centuries’. His exploration of the long-standing relationship between people and this ever-changing land left us all reflecting on how deeply intertwined these histories are. Toby Horkan followed next with ‘A Moving Landscape: Writing and Feeling at Spurn’, offering a perspective from multiple examples of literary reflections involving Spurn, on the emotional resonance of the area. My own presentation, ‘Walking Spurn’, explored the act of traversing this unique landscape during the first lifting of 2020’s COVID restrictions on movement, providing a reflective take on my own near 25-year connection with this special place, and the way that it has related to the major milestones of my life.

We were also fortunate to hear from poet and artist Dean Wilson, who closed the session with his charming and heartfelt presentation, ‘Beach Finds and Beach Rhymes’. Dean’s unique perspective on the everyday objects washed up on the shores gave us a fresh way to think about memory, creativity, and our relationship to the coast.

Throughout the day, we had plenty of chances to reflect on the ideas and histories we were engaging with. During our second break, we wrote postcards to Easington, Kilnsea, or Spurn—little souvenirs of the day and a heartfelt way to say thank you to the landscapes that have given so much. Whether sharing a memory, reflecting on one of Dean’s found objects, or simply writing a note of appreciation for the coast, these postcards were a fitting, creative way to end the day.

As we wrapped up with a final discussion, it became clear that the South Holderness Eco-Arts Project has truly resonated with everyone involved. The mix of historical, environmental, and creative perspectives highlighted the importance of supporting these communities—and the landscapes they call home. We’re incredibly grateful to all the speakers, participants, and, of course, to the Ferens Educational Trust and UKRI Higher Education Innovation Funding for making it all possible.