Newsflash; prior to this talk, Sandy Brown, major ceramicist and founder of the Appledore Visual Arts Festival and Rae Hoole, the new co-ordinator, will be giving a brief update to NDA members on this June's festival.

In summer 2012, North Devon will welcome an extraordinary visitor, Nowhereisland, a floating island nation, devised by Devon-based artist, Alex Hartley (pictured, photo: Max McClure). It will be moored at Ilfracombe 1-4 September, almost at the final stage of its journey from the Jurassic Coast to the Bristol Channel, as a major project of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Nowhereisland is made from material originating from a newly revealed island in the Arctic. Alex was the first person to stand on this territory and, with permission, brought the material back to the UK to make the artwork. During the journey to the UK, Nowhereisland was declared a new nation with citizenship open to all and, online, citizens can contribute to an evolving constitution, alongside a programme of 52 Resident Thinkers. Across the south west, the build up to the journey is underway as schools (including Ilfracombe Arts College), community and arts groups begin to plan how they will welcome this new nation to their town.

As an artwork, Nowhereisland will create a spectacular sight, for people who gather to see it in each port and for those who discover it while enjoying the south west coast.

North Devon Arts are extremely priviledged to have Alex speaking about this major Olympiad project at their February 8th meeting, being held at Broomhill Art Hotel, where he will tell the story of Nowhereisland and talk about his other recent artworks. He will be joined by Michael Prior, Associate Curator of Situations, who will be present to discuss some of the issues involved in producing such an ambitious project.

Free entry for North Devon Arts members, but non-members are welcome, entrance fee: £4.

If you have a talk or an evening you would like to present at a North Devon Arts meeting or if you would like to suggest a Speaker who you would like hear at a North Devon Arts meeting please contact events@northdevonarts.co.uk.