Stour Valley Arts

Stour Valley Arts is an independent arts organisation with a unique curatorial approach that fully integrates associated public programmes. We are based at King’s Wood, in Challock (Kent), a 1500-acre forest owned and managed by the Forestry Commission in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Internationally recognised artists are invited to undertake commissions in response to King’s Wood in a variety of media, either realised within the forest or exhibited in galleries and other off-site locations. Our interventions in King’s Wood are intentionally low-impact, and indeed some of our commissions leave no trace at all in the forest from which their inspiration has been drawn. Films, paintings, sound and video works may be screened and exhibited else- where, or the work may survive only in the form of a publication. SVA’s education programme is equally unique in its approach to connecting the forest with the public as it aims to complement our curatorial approach by working with com- munity groups over time and within the forest. This aspect of our work seeks to expand public awareness and participation in our artistic programme, but through real actual experiences it also encourages – across as diverse a range of audiences as possible – an awareness through art of the forest environment itself in its changing conditions. SVA works closely with partners to strengthen the cultural offer in Kent, nationally and internationally.