ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how the project developed as a way of getting to know the island through artistic improvisation workshops developed with residents and island planners. In tourist information Holy Island is described as being 'cut off' twice daily. In 2009, the Holy Island Partnership was developed to facilitate discussion between the community and the official agencies with the purpose of developing a coordinated response to island issues. As with Holy Island's governance arrangement, participation is central to the work of the planner; and it is common to include participatory art practice in planning projects as a way to engage community members. This chapter draws on fieldwork as part of Northumbrian Exchanges, an interdisciplinary AHRC knowledge exchange partnership at the Newcastle Institute for Contemporary Arts Practice, Newcastle University: between the Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University Business School, Music, Fine Art, and research partners across rural Northumberland.
