Seeds of Change: A Ballast Seed Garden for Bristol
Maria Thereza Alves
Seeds of Change is an ongoing investigation of ballast flora in European port cities by artist Maria Thereza Alves. The project was part of the 2007 Arnolfini exhibition Port City, with the artist undertaking a period of research to find and photograph possible ballast sites around the river Avon and Bristol's Harbourside.
A site for the Ballast Seed Garden was identified and outline approval to use the land was received from Bristol City Council. The identified site is at the point where the ‘cut' and docks meet the river Avon. Plants would be seeded from the original ballast, protected by small wind breaks and signage providing information would be developed maintaining the essential character of the space. The artist has produced a concept design which quietly animates the space - see related links and information section below.
Funding application to Biffa to build the Garden
A long consultation process with Bristol communities took place during 2010 about the proposal of a Ballast Seed Garden as a permanent public artwork which Arnolfini has been developing with the help of Bristol City Council. We applied for a grant from Biffa Award to support this, but sadly were unsuccessful. We will now re-focus and consider how we continue to engage schools and communities, as part of our commitment to Interaction and the Ballast Seed Garden.
The following organisations are working in partnership with Arnolfini on the project: Bristol City Council; Bristol Museum, Galleries and Archives; University of Bristol Botanic Garden; University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol Centre of Public Engagement; Create Centre, Transformations Project.
