My artful way asks whether culture must exist in material form to be rooted in place. Does it have to be something permanent or can the simple act of humming a tune inspired by the hedgerow be culture? And can Place be within the individual or does it have to be an environment?

While walking the back lanes of Loweswater, I played with the natural environment and the body, seeing where the lines could be blurred and considering how much knowledge is needed to make cultural contributions to the environment question. Does simply being present qualify you to create? Absolutely!

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Listen to Melissa reading her poem here:

Answering the three Artful questions

What does creativity/culture mean to you?

I see creativity and culture as something that takes everyday survival and turns it into a life.

What have you missed/new opportunities?

I’ve missed human connection, sharing poems together in a room; the silence before someone starts to read and the seeds of passing conversations that simply aren’t planted over video events. However, I appreciate the accessibility of online, so look forward to the new hybrid way of working going forward.

How can we collectively/artfully better care for our environment?

By using art to bridge the gap between the general public and professionals facing into environmental issues. If more of us understand what is happening or why something needs to happen the effort can become collective.