Carlisle is twinned with Slupsk on the Baltic coast of Poland. The twinning of these two cities was the starting point for the project that brought together artists from two distinctly different cultures. Slupsk is also the home of Castle of Imagination, the only annual international festival of performance art in Poland. This festival inspired the form of the project - a live art exchange. Ten artists, five from Poland and five from the northern region of England performed alongside each other in the Tullie House gallery and in the street in Carlisle between 1st and 4th July 2004. Here are some responses and comments from a few of those who came:

"It was an encouraging experience to see such an ambitious and inspiring live art exchange take place in a region where new and experimental art and performance practices can often go unsupported and overlooked. To see the work of British and Polish artists standing side by side provided an important opportunity for us to reflect on the commonalities, conflicts and issues of the different cultures encouraging us to look beyond our own town or city and its issues to that of a larger social, cultural and political community. I hope that this means the start of a supported experimental art and performance network in Cumbria".

"Thank you for a truly wonderful programme of Live Art and performance that you produced last week. It was a rare opportunity to share such important dialogue between a diverse selection of artists, and to experience work from the likes of Marek Choloniewski on such an intimate level! I believe that the Cumbria-Poland Live Art Exchange really is the start of something special and rewarding, not just for the regions artists but for the people of Cumbria. It will guarantee that Carlisle will become recognised as a centre for artistic activity in the North West and as you have proved already - internationally".

"I just wanted to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of live art. I wish I could have seen more and I wish I had seen some years ago. I will however see more in the future. It was a worthwhile, stimulating, energising and revelationary experience for me".

The artists and the performances >