OFFSHOOT: Cultivating connections – arts, nature and place
When?
– 28th October 2026
– 10am – 4.30pm Symposium at University of Salford
– 4.30-6.30pm Drinks reception and networking at Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
Where?
– New Adelphi Building, University of Salford
– Salford Museum and Art Gallery
The Symposium
Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, University of Salford and Open Eye Gallery, this one-day symposium brings together artists, commissioners, academics, funders, cultural organisations, environmental partners and public sector leaders to explore how cross-sector collaboration can create ambitious, place-based cultural projects.
Hear from artists, stakeholders and the project team. A full schedule to be announced soon. alongside information about access, travel, and what to expect on the day.
Anoosh Ariamehr (2026), Participants in the Community Grow Garden
Jules Lister (2026), Exhibition Installation Image, Visitors in the Community Grow Garden
Further information:
Inspired by the OFFSHOOT partnership, the symposium will share learning from a multi-year collaboration that has embedded artists within RHS Garden Bridgewater through long-term residencies, research and community engagement. Together, the partners have commissioned four artists, engaged more than 400 participants in the creation of new work, presented five exhibitions across three North West venues, delivered a series of public talks with industry experts, and reached audiences of over 500,000 people.
Through panel discussions and facilitated roundtables, the symposium will explore the practicalities of commissioning artists beyond traditional cultural venues, developing long-term partnerships across the cultural, environmental and higher education sectors, and strengthening the evidence for the impact of creative work on people, place and nature.
The day is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas, experience and best practice, with a particular focus on sharing learning, championing long-term collaborative partnerships, broadening access to arts, heritage and nature, and building stronger connections between research, culture and the natural environment.
Whether you are developing commissions, shaping policy, undertaking research or delivering creative and environmental programmes, the symposium offers an opportunity to connect with peers, share expertise and contribute to the future of collaborative, place-based practice. The day will end with a drinks reception in the Yan Wang Preston: Memory Keepers exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the final exhibition of the OFFSHOOT project.