A Thousand Feathers
By Studio Meraki
Leading delivery of a dazzling site-specific commission in partnership with Creativity Works and Well Wessex, co-produced with the Stourhead community
PROJECT OVERVIEW
CLIENT: Stourhead (National Trust)
ROLE: Project Manager, Creative Producer, Evaluator
TIMELINE: Jan - Oct 2021
PROJECT TYPE: art commission / site-specific / partnership / co-production
Outcomes and achievements
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![A white feather made of milk bottle plastic on a rod in a garden displays the words 'Let it go'.]()
1514 feathers made by the community
1,014 community-made feathers were installed at launch. Another 500 were made by visitors inspired by A Thousand Feathers.
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![Camilla Forest stands with artists from Studio Meraki and staff from Creativity Works.]()
Two new partnerships established
I established partnerships with Creativity Works and Well Wessex, focused on engaging underserved local audiences through creative practice.
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![A pair of hands use scissors to cut the shape of a feather from white plastic.]()
10 community workshops delivered
I coordinated 10 artist-led workshops supporting with local community groups that championed well-being support.
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![Leaf-shaped post-it notes display works like 'peace' and 'stillness'.]()
Renewed engagement post-lockdown
Evaluation demonstrated deep emotional engagement for participants and visitors, exploring themes of well-being, renewal, and healing.
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![Someone cuts into a plastic milk bottle with scissors.]()
Recycled milk bottle plastic
Creative production was budget friendly, with feathers crafted from milk bottles recycled from the Stourhead cafe.
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![A series of white plastic feathers on rods in a garden, displaying words including 'Stourhead'.]()
Legacy: access consultation
After the project, participating groups were approached to consult on an accessibility audit for the property.
THE BRIEF
How do you celebrate 75 years of heritage conservation in a way that resonates with people in the wake of the pandemic?
It felt important that the approach should explore the role Stourhead played in supporting the wellbeing of local people during this time of acute isolation.
The 75th anniversary of Stourhead's gift to the National Trust called for something aspirational and compelling. Community participation on such a grand scale required conditions of psychological safety and access. The creative process enabled diverse voices to express what the world famous landscape garden meant to them.
CAMILLA’S APPROACH
PARTNER COLLABORATION
I developed the programme concept, establishing two new partnerships with Creativity Works and Well Wessex to collaborate on artist recruitment and community outreach. I acted as liaison between lead partners, artists, community groups, Stourhead staff and volunteers, and regional consultants.
CREATIVE PRODUCTION
I coordinated 10 creative workshops supporting co-creation, led interpretation design using oak sourced from the Stourhead estate, and managed installation in the landscape garden.
CONSERVATION RISK
I developed and implemented an evaluation plan measuring emotional impact, partnership outcomes, business objectives, and visitor response.
UNFORGETTABLE IMPACT
Each of the 1014 feathers installed in Studio Meraki’s stunning installation was made by a member of the Stourhead community. It sparked conversations about the vital importance of nature and personal connections, the joy of being alive, and the cycle of life and death.
“Working with Camilla was awesome. She was greatly committed to partnership working and learning from each other, and expertly fostered an atmosphere in meetings to enable us all to do this.”
Sarah James, Director, Creativity works
