If Trees Could Talk Devon 2026 Programme
Between May and July 2026, workshops, talks, and exhibitions form the Devon Satellite programme of the International Art Biennial, “If Trees Could Talk.” This programme has been co-created with people around Devon keen to connect across boundaries, creatively.
All Festival events can be booked through the listings on this page.
Workshop series allow time to meaningfully explore an approach, develop new habits, and connect with others. Our programme features a number of series, each with a reputation for environmental engagement and wellbeing outcomes for participants.
Our one-off workshops and events offer a taste of a range of creative practices, and ways people in Devon think about trees. Many of these are suitable for families. So far, these are taking place at Creativity Acre and Eltham Farm, both just west of Crediton, Forde Park in Newton Abbot, and the University of Exeter Campus (in the former Botanical Gardens.) We expect more to be added online as the Festival progresses.
We are particularly excited by our talks programme, delivered with Ashburton Arts Centre. Guided by the Bienniale theme of ‘Connecting Across Borders’ a range of inspiring people are entering into a public conversation with someone from another discipline. They are sharing their (all quite impressive) experiences, and approach to trees, art and ecology, in vulnerable but open discourse about decision-making in our time.
Four permanent art installations, all co-created with local communities, are free to visit in public locations (subject to opening hours), and anchor our programme.
The Newton Abbot Community Tree led by Joe Webster
- In winter 24-25 artists Joe Webster and Catherine West, with substantial support from Newton Abbot Rotary, engaged over 600 people from the Newton Abbot community in conversations about trees. The Newton Abbot Community Tree project collected words and stories that Joe, and selected representatives of the community, ‘graffitied’ as detail into a 16 story tree painting, a short distance from the former site of an ancient oak, found in a photo from the Newton Abbot Museum.
The Art-Coustics Tree led by Catherine West
- Catherine West co-created a textile tree and installation artwork with the community around Crediton Train Station in mid-Devon, bringing the outside into the Crediton Tea Rooms with a patchwork tree of all seasons that also serves to improve the acoustics and sensory experience of the Victorian era space. It is now run as a cafe by an arts organisation committed to equal access to music, art, stories, and life, the Turning Tides Project.
The Barnstaple Reading Tree led by James Lake
- A Former Gap store was turned into a pop-up library and workshop space in Spring 2022. University of Exeter drama students, school workshops, community events, and library visitors helped make this 5M tall tree: with parts for arious times of the year. This Tree changes with the seasons. Visitors enjoy a seating area around the book-spine inspired trunk.
The Tavistock Tree led by James Lake
- Following on the success of teh Barnstaple Reading Tree, the Tavistock Community has now worked with James Lake to make a community tree for their library too. Visit it in the Children’s Library area.