Lawson Park Farm is the new headquarters of Grizedale Arts, a charitable organisation which offers artists' residencies and curates and commissions contemporary art.
During 2007-10 the site's land and buildings are being brought back into a working condition, following many decades of decline from active farming. 2008 sees the main part of the building's refurbishment, with the GA office housed in a temporary site hut whilst the works progress.
Lawson Park will be a research base for a wide range of people working with Grizedale Arts including contemporary artists, traditional artists, curators, cultural theorists, farmers, gardeners, educationalists, regenerators, funding bodies, and local and international small communities.
In addition to the renovation of the building, the surrounding land will be developed as a series of native species-focused and wildflower gardens. The old farmland - an area of around 15 acres of pasture and woodland - will be improved to provide a working smallholding, producing food and other local produce. This year (2008) potatoes, broad beans, cauliflowers and onions are being grown in the first field to be fenced against deer, and the gardens opened to the public for the first time on August 24th, for the National Garden Scheme, welcoming over 200 visitors.
The emphasis of Lawson Park will be on trying new ideas and ways to use the landscape for productive and recreational purposes and - ideally - productive recreation.
