Nick Hayes author of Sunday Times bestseller The Book of Trespass joins Be More Giant environmental panel launch in Newbury

Corn Exchange Newbury and 101 Outdoor Arts are to host a fascinating panel talk Be More Giant that will explore the importance of our natural landscapes.

This exciting and informative panel will delve into how the arts can be used to reconnect with the natural world, highlighting the importance of community and going green.

Exploring the importance of our landscapes, the Corn Exchange with 101 Outdoor Arts will host the panel talk, Be More Giant, on Monday, March 3.

The talk will be a collaborative exploration of how society can reclaim and celebrate our landscapes through collective art experiences.

Grounded in community rituals and influenced by ancient traditions, the panel aims to investigate how art, play and mythmaking can help people to form deeper connections with both the natural world and one another.

Leading the panel will be Becca Gill, artistic director of Radical Ritual; a new company creating bold, inclusive rituals that connect people through art and collective action.

Joining her will be fellow member of Radical Ritual and Consequences, Grace Emily Manning. Consequences is the debut artwork for Radical Ritual, launching in September.

Completing the panel will be writer and illustrator Nick Hayes, whose Sunday Times bestseller The Book of Trespass calls for more public access to nature, and Nick Llewellyn who runs Access All Areas, promoting inclusive cultural performance by neurodiverse artists.

Sita Brahmachari (When Secrets Set Sail, Kite Spirit) is an internationally celebrated author whose work focuses on community cohesion and environmental protection.

Writer and cultural historian Dr Zakiya McKenzie will also join the panel. The writer-in-residence 2019 for Forestry England was 2021 artist-in-residence at Studio Voltaire in London.

101 Outdoor Arts strategic lead Simon Chatterton said: “We’re delighted to be working with such an exciting group of writers, artists and thinkers on the Be More Giant event.

“Arts in public space has a key role to play in celebrating place and connecting communities with the natural world.”

The Corn Exchange managed 101 Outdoor Arts based on Greenham Park has grown to be a unique powerhouse of creativity, supporting the creation of hundreds of performances and installations destined to be showcased at festivals, major arts events and cultural programmes across the UK and internationally.

With the support of Arts Council England and Greenham Trust, 101 Outdoor Arts has become a world-renowned centre for artist development, hosting hundreds of artists each year to create their performances and take advantage of the centre’s unique facilities, which include residential accommodation and scenic fabrication facilities.

101 also produces a year-round, free programme of national and international outdoor arts performances with the Corn Exchange Newbury, engaging thousands of audiences annually. Over the last ten years, 101 has become a national hub for innovation and talent development, hosting national training and professional development programmes and industry forums. 101 also works with thousands of local participants and volunteers and community groups across Newbury to involve them in creative outdoor arts projects.

Full programme information can be found at: https://cornexchangenew.com/events/be-more-giant Social Media @101outdoorarts @CornExchange Location 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space, Communication Road, Greenham Business Park, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 6HN