Are you Lost? was an exciting commission that Lancaster Arts co-produced with artist,Rob St John alongside the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. It is part of the national programme Nature Calling.
Over summer 2025 we welcomed you into the heart of the Forest of Bowland to discover the stories that shape the landscape, from the people who live close by, through a series of sound, film and textile installations.
We immersed ourselves in the sounds, sights and fabric of Bowland, as we stepped inside the installation, created by Rob and textile artist Kate O'Farrell, to understand what makes the area tick. We uncovered the histories and personal stories of Bowland, delved deeper into our understanding of what the area represents and considered our own thoughts on this landscape and its social, and political heritage and future.
The artwork opened to the public for the first time at Pendle Festival of Culture on 28 June in partnership with Building Bridges, in Nelson town centre on the outskirts of the Forest of Bowland. The official launch of Are You Lost? then saw the installation situated in Jinny's Barn on 2-3 August before the finale in Gisburn Forest on the weekend of 30-31 August. Each installation was surrounded by a host of additional, free activity for all ages, including artist workshops, singing, guided walks and hosted conversations.
The installation was on display for one final time in the Peter Scott Gallery at Lancaster University from 2-17 October 2025 and was exhibted at the British Textile Biennial at Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford from 2 October-2 November 2025.
Podcasts
The Are You Lost? podcast series is hosted by Rob St. John and gives more insights into how the artwork was developed. The episodes are available, including an introduction to the project, where you can hear all about the inspiration behind it and what it was aiming to do. You can listen on Spotify here.
Nature Calling is executive produced by Activate Performing Arts and the National Landscapes Association and is funded by Arts Council England and Defra.
