Made In England

Art from the Heart is Gloucestershire's contribution to Made in England, a joint BBC project with the Arts Council. It's dedicated to exploring how England – the place and the people - is expressed through creative and artistic forms.

Whether born and bred in the county, or resident by choice, you are invited to celebrate places close to your heart and contribute to our 'Art from the Heart' creative collection of what makes Gloucestershire special for those living here in 2009.

Rob Ward has a soft spot for Woorgreen Lake

What are your special places?

Is there somewhere in Gloucestershire that is important to you personally? Does a certain public space or private place hold vivid memories for you?

What is it you like about a specific building or bridge, a walk or wood? Why do you always take that particular path? Where do you often take visiting friends?

Be it vale or vista, landmark or landscape, street or stretch of water, we'd like to hear about it. It might be anything from garden shed to hill-top view, from ancient architecture to favourite bench.

The project is open to anyone living in Gloucestershire aged over 16.

Shirley Warr's image of an old 'Kissing gate'

Meet the artists

From May to July, writer Marcus Moore and photographer Ben Cavanna will be out and about, looking to meet anyone who has a story to tell about somewhere that's special to them.

You can find them on the following occasions:

• Sunday 31st May – The Tall Ships Festival, Gloucester Docks
• Saturday 6th June – Cheltenham Science Festival, Imperial Gardens
• Sunday 28th June – Lydney Festival and Sculpture Trail, Forest of Dean
• Sunday 12th July – Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
• Saturday 18th July – Stroud Country Show
• Sunday 19th July – Many Cultures Day, Gloucester Park

Look out for their snazzy T-shirts. Marcus will be wearing a battered top-hat, Ben carrying a clever camera.

Workshops and exhibition

Later in the summer, our writer-photographer duo will invite up to 30 contributors to join them for one of their Art from the Heart workshops.

These will be held at six different venues across the county – probably pubs.

Participants will be given help and advice on how to sharpen written pieces, edit photographic images, and compose suitable captions.

The resulting words and images will appear in a public exhibition in October.

A tree on Leckhampton Hill, taken by Aelred Down

Your art from your heart

Getting involved couldn't be easier.

You can email Marcus to tell him what you'd like to write about or capture on camera.

Or write to him at Art from the Heart, 20 Coxwell Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2BH.

Do also send Marcus photographs and/or pieces you've already written as this will give us a good overall picture of both the popular spots and the hidden nooks.

A selection of images will continue to be added to our online gallery throughout the project.

We'd especially like to hear from people who don't think of themselves as creative writers or image-makers.

It doesn't matter if you don't have your own camera, or even a pen!

All you need is a heart that beats, a mind that speaks and a place that means a lot to you.