Olympics inspire art across UK coastline

Inspired by the ‘Olympic truce,’ which calls for countries to come together in peace, an art installation will see encampments of glowing tents set up at eight remote coastal sites on 19-22 July

Recordings of love poems will be played at the sites, accompanied by a soundtrack from the composer Mel Mercier as they light up to become beacons of peace. Titled Peace Camp, it is the creation of acclaimed director Deborah Warner, in partnership with actor Fiona Shaw, and aims to celebrate the UK’s poetic tradition.

The locations range from Cemaes Bay in Anglesey, Wales, to Godrevy Head in Cornwall, White Park Bay in County Antrim and Valtos on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Over the four nights people will be able to visit or camp out at the sites.

Anyone in the UK can add their voices to the project by recording their favourite love poems and uploading them to the project’s website as audio files or videos. Participants can also upload their own original poems, messages or photos.

Birling Gap, Sussex. Photo: © Alan MacKenzie