At a busy meeting in Buchan Street on the 1st of March, 23 members of the public voted to select Isabella Martin as the next Open House Artist in Residence for North Cambridge. Isabella Martin will be working with communities in North Cambridge to explore the local area from April to December 2016.

Over the next few months, Isabella Martin will be collecting stories from people across the north of the city to find out about the area. She will also be researching Kettle’s Yard to develop engaging and inspiring projects in collaboration with the community.

Isabella Martin is an artist who works with different materials to make work that interacts with specific places and the stories they tell. Using drawing, performance, writing and sculpture, Isabella creates inventive, playful, outdoor artworks in collaboration with people to explore our relationship to the landscape in which we live. Isabella has exhibited nationally and internationally, and completed residencies in North America, Wales, Denmark and Japan. She is a member of the collective Camp Little Hope, which develops humorous, imaginative new worlds. 

Isabella Martin said:

“I’m really excited to work with the communities of North Cambridge on this project, and to be inspired by the wonderful Kettle’s Yard collection to explore how we can tell the stories of this neighbourhood together.”

Alan Soer, Manager of Arbury Community Centre and Chair of Arbury Carnival said:

“Choosing a resident artist to work with the communities of North Cambridge has been an exciting and challenging experience. All the artists that presented to the well attended meeting were of a high standard. We are really pleased to welcome Isabella and look forward to working together.”

Open House is a long-term creative programme with Kettle’s Yard and communities in North Cambridge, each year the community selects the Open House Artist in Residence.