After nearly 30 years in Haringey, North London, Furtherfield, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, has relocated to Felixstowe. Director of the not-for-profit company, Ruth Catlow, talks about effecting eco-social change through art and technology experiences
Why did you choose Suffolk to relocate? How has the organisation adapted to Suffolk life, and what do you and your fellow Director love about being here?
Marc Garrett and I co-founded Furtherfield in London in 1996, just as the web was emerging as a space where anyone could share their ideas. Over the years, we’ve built an international community of artists, technologists, and organisers, working together to explore how digital technologies can be used creatively to shape the communities we want to live in. From our base in Finsbury Park, we increasingly felt drawn to working more closely with local communities on ecological issues, and in ways rooted in a strong sense of place. This shift in focus has informed our relocation to Suffolk.
We first moved to live in Felixstowe in 2021, attracted by the beauty of the Suffolk coast, the striking presence of the port, and the convenience of the nearby ferry to Europe, helping us keep our collaborations flight-free. After a couple of years of getting to know the place and its people, we became excited about the idea of bringing Furtherfield to the town. We’ve been inspired by the generosity of other creative individuals and organisations here, as well as the warmth and openness of the community. There’s a real appetite for new creative experiences and a sense of possibility for the work we’re most passionate about.
We heard you serve the “Felixstowe Peninsula”; what areas and places does that include?
We wanted to include people who are from all around Felixstowe town itself, and surrounding towns and villages, so we serve Ipswich and Woodbridge too.
What kind of arts-tech-eco collaborative experiences does Furtherfield offer, and who for?
Furtherfield works with many community partners and local people across the town and beyond to co-create adventurous, imaginative responses to the environmental and social challenges of our time.
Recently, we’ve been working with Hamilton MAS, the micro arts space and gallery at Bent Hill in Felixstowe, where our current exhibition, From the City to the Coast, is open until 17th August (11 am – 4 pm, FREE to view by appointment and open to all).
The exhibition tells the story of that relocation, and of a growing network of local people – young adults, artists, and community partners – coming together via Reimagine This Coastal Town. The exhibition showcases stimulating work from this process, including:
● The Treaty of Finsbury Park, a five-year public LARP (Live Action Role Play) series exploring interspecies politics and biodiversity, including an artist film by Tracy Kiryango.
● Reimagine This Coastal Town, a series of time-travelling events co-devised with Professor Ann Light (University of Sussex) and brought to life in a community film by Hydar Dewachi and illustrations by Georgia Holland, all co-created with young adults in Felixstowe.
● A growing collection of local and young voices sharing ideas about what matters most about Felixstowe’s future, and what’s needed to care for it.
What is a “LARP” and why is LARPing such a great way to explore complex issues and find unconventional solutions collectively?
LARPs (Live Action Role Plays) are creative events designed to spark imagination and action through collaboration. Imagine if role play, improvisation and critical thinking collided, enabling you to explore all the “What ifs” about any situation, from the probable to the very unusual. For example, sometimes the only way to imagine accurately how other living beings might be affected by any plan is to explore what daily life is like for them in your locality. When people become immersed in that way of imaginative thinking, it can be transformative and satisfying because fresh ideas emerge on what preventative action can be taken to protect the local wildlife or even better, start to imagine the things we can do to help us ALL thrive together. That’s what LARPing can do.
Why are young people being offered lots of Furtherfield opportunities and projects this year?
Sometimes, young people’s voices can be missing from local consultations or creative experiences. The people we’ve talked to in Felixstowe see this as a terrible waste of talent and insight. We wanted to ensure that everyone can contribute to and participate in what Furtherfield is offering and that there are opportunities for creative intergenerational connection, collaboration and exchange. We have been awarded a pot of funding this year to offer projects that centre the talents, needs and aspirations of young people aged 18-30, thanks to Suffolk County Council’s Cultural Fund. We have already learned so much from Courtney Hessey, our Youth Empowerment Lead, and are very grateful for the support of our project partners – Level Two Youth Projects and Hamilton MAS with their artYsPaceS project.
What events and activities are available in August for people in or visiting Felixstowe?
On Sunday, 17th August at 11.30 am, you can come to an Interspecies Meditation on Felixstowe Beach. This is a guided ritual led by me (Ruth Catlow), designed to help people develop empathy with non-human life forms through imaginative role-play and deep listening. It provides participants with a fun experience of possible new relationships. You can expect:
● A group journey from Hamilton MAS to Felixstowe Beach
● A guided meditation to enter the consciousness of a chosen species
● A sharing circle where we reflect on our embodied experiences
● Thoughtful dialogue on place, ecology, and kinship across species.
Whether you’re an artist, activist, beach-walker, or just curious, this event offers a powerful, imaginative way to reconnect with your surroundings – and with the lives that share it. Free tickets are available here on EventBrite.
The exhibition at Hamilton MAS, which continues until 17th August marks the start of the next phase of the project: an 18-month-long creative programme culminating in a Live Action Role Play (LARP) where art, community, and ecology meet. This will take place in September 2026, co-designed with young adults and regional artists.
You can join our mailing list and stay in touch with us about future events and opportunities via furtherfield.org.
The Interspecies Meditation on Felixstowe Beach with Ruth Catlow takes place on Sunday August 17, 2025, from 11.30am-12.30pm. Meet at Hamilton MAS. The Furtherfield Exhibition: From the City to the Coast at Hamilton MAS finishes on Sunday August 17, 2025. Opening times 11am–4pm. Visit Furtherfield.
Featured image of Ruth Catlow by Fiona Hanson
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