Cumbria Connect will host the inaugural Lakes Deer Fest 2026 at the Rheged Centre, Penrith, on 10 October.
A celebration of deer, wild venison, art and nature recovery
Join us for a day that celebrates our native Red and Roe Deer of Cumbria and the Lake District. These animals carry centuries of history and remain part of the living character of our upland fells, valleys and woodlands.
Across the festival, we explore the many roles that deer play in our ecosystems - how they shape our landscapes and the steps being taken to bring the land back into balance through responsible and sustainable deer management. Through walks, talks, art, food and demonstrations, the festival will tell the evolving story of deer in an ever-changing landscape.
With a taste of wild local venison, creative workshops and live music, this is a warm, welcoming and vibrant festival to celebrate the future of Cumbria's nature.
Who we are
Cumbria Connect is a major nature recovery initiative spanning 42,000 hectares in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, it is a collaboration of farmers, landowners, conservationists and partners including the RSPB, Lowther estate, United Utilities and Natural England
The programme is revitalising the landscape through habitat restoration, nature-friendly farming and species reintroduction. This region is home to rare wildlife, ancient woodlands, temperate rainforest, upland fells and vital peatlands that help combat climate change and enhance biodiversity, providing benefits for both nature and local communities.
Find out more at www.connectfornature.org.uk / @connectfornature
Artist Residency Overview
Cumbria Connect is seeking an artist based in Cumbria to collaborate on the design, curation, and development of visual and interactive elements for the Lakes Deer Fest 2026.
This commission offers an exciting opportunity to help shape the creative identity of the festival, with a strong emphasis on community collaboration. Central to the role is the co-creation of a new artwork with local communities, to be presented as part of the festival programme.
We would like the artist to concentrate their main activities within the CA10 and CA11 postcode areas, while allowing satellite activities to take place elsewhere in Cumbria.
We are open to a wide range of artistic approaches and encourage proposals that are participatory, place-responsive, and environmentally engaged. Artforms may include, but are not limited to music, painting, writing, ceramics, photography, sculpture, poetry, performance, and site-specific installation.
Purpose
To creatively explore the relationship between native Red and Roe deer, the Cumbrian landscape, and the people who live and work within it.
Vision
Through artistic practice, the resident artist will engage local communities in reflecting on the complex role of deer in our landscape, acknowledging both their ecological significance and their impacts, opening thoughtful, accessible conversations around deer management as part of nature’s recovery.
We are particularly interested in artists who will:
- Develop creative ways for people to engage with nature recovery and the role of deer management.
- Foster and support nature-based communities in Cumbria.
- Use co-design and co-production to empower communities and amplify local voices.
- Explore local heritage and respond to a strong sense of place.
Potential themes:
- Cumbrian cultural traditions and/or folklore
- Contemporary perceptions of deer
- People’s hopes and visions for the future of Cumbria’s landscape
Timeline & Budget
- Application deadline: Monday 30 March 2026, Midday
- Residency period: 1 May and 18 December 2026
- Festival date: 10 October 2026
- Budget: £5,000 (This is the total award to the artist to cover all residency fees, production and participation costs, materials, and travel)
Who Can Apply?
The residency is open to local artists, makers, performers and creatives working in any medium.
Applicants must:
- Be Cumbria-based or have strong, demonstrable connections to Cumbria
- Have demonstrable experience in a relevant area of arts practice
- Be passionate about working with landscape, place, and ecology
- Be willing to collaborate with local communities to co-produce artwork(s)
- Support Cumbria Connect with additional creative elements of the festival
- Take part in a process of evaluation during the residency and after the festival has taken place
Relevant experience may include (but is not limited to) work relating to:
- Cultural histories of place
- Wildlife and ecology
- Climate and environmentalism
- Restoration landscapes
- Cultural geographies
Applications will close at midnight on Monday 30 March 2026, Midday.
Applications will be shortlisted by a selection panel. We will then invite a selection of artists from this shortlist to an informal interview at the Cumbria Connect offices near Lowther Castle, Penrith.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please get in touch with Emma Hughes, Community Engagement Officer at Cumbria Connect, at emma.hughes@rspb.org.uk or 07516588286.