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Art Gene, Bath Street, Barrow-in-Furness,

Cumbria, LA14 5TY England, UK

Category Archives: News

Community Gardener Job Opportunity

Are you good with plants and people? Would you like the challenge of managing an organic community allotment to produce food and protect nature? Art Gene is seeking a Community Gardener on a fixed-term contract until 2028. We can consider a 3, 4 or… Read more

Remember Nature 2025 — Poster Series Now Available

REMEMBER NATURE 2025, the nationwide day of artist-led action taking place in art galleries, cultural venues and outdoor spaces across England on Tuesday 4th November 2025, is excited to launch a special newly commissioned poster series. Available to order now, printed and distributed by King… Read more

25 x 25 Art Gene’s 25th Anniversary Residency #2 : Spaces and Structures at Art Gene

Open Call for Artists 25 x 25 Art Gene’s 25th Anniversary Residency #2 A 25-day residency in Barrow-in-Furness: Spaces and Structures at Art Gene The Old Technical School 1925 and 2025. Image: Maddi Nicholson In 2027, Art Gene celebrates 25 years of artist-led, environmentally-aware placemaking,… Read more

25 x 25 Art Gene 25th Anniversary Artist in Residence Opportunity

Open Call for Artists 25 x 25 Art Gene’s 25th Anniversary Residency A 25-Day Residency in Barrow-in-Furness – an environmental and climate focus. In 2027, Art Gene celebrates 25 years of artist-led, environmentally aware placemaking, research, artist residences, exhibitions, and socially engaged art projects –… Read more

Announcing ‘See It To Be It’ with Cumbria Arts and Culture Network

Art Gene is pleased to join a new countywide initiative led by Cumbria Arts and Culture Network (CACN) as part of a £175,000 project funded by Arts Council England to help more young Cumbrians build careers in the creative industries. Working with theatres, museums… Read more

Honour for Maddi Nicholson

Maddi Nicholson honoured in HM The King’s 2025 Birthday Honours. Maddi Nicholson, artist and founder-Director of Art Gene has been named in King Charles III’s birthday honours list today, 14 June, for services to the Arts and to the community in Barrow-in-Furness. It is with… Read more

Announcing Remember Nature – A nationwide day of artist-led action for nature

Announcing Remember Nature – A nationwide day of artist-led action to stand up for nature Remember Nature 2025 is an ambitious new staging of the visionary art project initiated in 2015 by the celebrated artist Gustav Metzger (1926-2017), and curated by… Read more

Announcing John Hall with Maddi Nicholson – Micro Commission Artists

John Hall Tin Ships, 2025 Sea Like a Mirror is an ambitious national partnership programme, commissioned to mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), inspired by the profound legacy of their life-saving work and the special status its volunteer crews… Read more

Barrow Forum bus shelter ad by Dana Olărescu – Press Release

Barrow Forum bus shelter ad is not selling anything – Instead it’s a work of art with an important message An unusual advertisement that is not selling anything has appeared in Barrow town centre. The bus shelter poster, sited near The Forum, is in… Read more

Artist in Residence Open Call – APPLY NOW

REAL Barrow Food, futures & biodiversity Artist in Residence Open Call Art Gene invites an artist to apply to take up a two-week residency at our Isle of Walney outdoor project space, Allotment Soup, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Working with our refugee community,… Read more

Stuart Bastik (1965 – 2024)

Stuart Bastik (1965 – 2024) It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Stuart Bastik. Artist, founder and co-director of Art Gene with Maddi Nicholson, Stuart was also one half of Nicholson Bastik. Stuart died following a period of illness on… Read more

The Earnse Project

Work is underway at Earnse Bay on Walney Island to build a deeper bond between the community and our natural heritage. The Environment & Arts Resource for Neighbourhood, for Schools, for Everyone, (Earnse) is a partnership between Natural England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Westmorland and Furness… Read more

Catalyst Announcement

Catalyst: Creative residencies in Cumbria – three artists selected and awarded £25,000 each PRESS RELEASE #CatalystCumbria A poet, a visual artist and a musician have each been awarded £25,000 to each create a brand new piece of art for Cumbria over the next 10 months.… Read more

Digital U “On Repeat” live screening this evening at 7pm

“ON REPEAT” Live Online Screening 3rd May 2023 @ 7pm On Repeat is Art Gene’s latest digital programme curated by artist Sophie Lindsey. It will run throughout May 2023, sharing work from six artists in a series of online exhibitions, events, and interventions. Repetition is… Read more

Food, futures & biodiversity, artists & events announced

Mapping Methodologies workshop at Allotment Soup, part of Extreme Views: Armchair Walks, Owen Griffiths Extreme Views: Food, futures & biodiversity Art Gene are delighted to announce the artists in residence who will be visiting Barrow-in-Furness for Extreme Views: Food, futures & biodiversity. Lead… Read more

Bug-Out Design & Build

Above: Bug-Out, artwork by Stuart Bastik Bug-Out Low Carbon Barrow Artist’s Design Statement Bug-Out is a touring sculpture concept, designed by Art Gene’s Artist Directors Stuart Bastik & Maddi Nicholson, to engage communities in climate change issues, promote the programme and demystify off-grid… Read more

8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness Competition

‘Extreme Views’ at Hollywood Park Roundabout, Barrow-in-Furness, photo Charlie MacKeith 8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness Inspired by the empty billboards in town, we felt it would be fabulous to add words and thoughts to them, activating a virtual conversation amongst local people reflecting our… Read more

Rediscover Barrow’s Duke Street

Above: Black & white postcard view of Duke Street from Ramsden Square, circa 1900s, courtesy of Barrow Archives & Local Studies Centre Rediscover Barrow’s Duke Street Re:discover Barrow – An Armchair Walk ONLINE How do Sir Malcolm Campbell, the Dutch Masters… Read more

Barrow goes to Penrith!

Above: Your smile needn’t be socially distant from me, 8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness installation, words by Laura Day. Photo Anna Litchfield 20 prize winners from Barrow go on exhibition in Penrith Barrow’s lockdown artwork celebrated in an exhibition of Cumbrian creativity… Read more

8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness Exhibition

Above: 8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness, installation outside the Nan Tait centre, photo Anna Litchfield 8 Words for Barrow-in-Furness Exhibition October 2020 Art Gene Corner of Bath Street and Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5TY During lockdown, we asked for your 8 Words for… Read more

Art Gene

Bath Street,

Barrow-in-Furness,

Cumbria, LA14 5TY England, UK

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