New Biosphere Artist in Residence Brings Music and Nature Together
The Isle of Man is shining a spotlight on its rich natural heritage with the appointment of a new Biosphere Artist in Residence. Alice Dudley, a skilled musician and visual artist, has been named the Manx Wildlife Trust’s next year-long Biosphere Artist in Residence. She becomes the fourth artist to take on this ambitious role, which seeks to bridge art, conservation, and public engagement across the island.
This residency program is designed to connect new audiences with the Manx landscape, wildlife, and environmental challenges while exploring how creative practice can illuminate the beauty and fragility of the biosphere. Less about conservation rhetoric and more about lived, sensory experiences, the project invites residents and visitors to see nature through the eyes of an artist who uses sound, image, and performance as its tools.
A Multidisciplinary Artist Embracing the Island’s Biodiversity
Alice Dudley’s practice spans music and visual arts, enabling her to craft interdisciplinary works that respond to specific sites and ecosystems. Her approach blends improvisation, field recording, and installation, creating immersive experiences that encourage people to listen more closely to their surroundings. For a year, she will collaborate with scientists, educators, and local communities to develop pieces that reflect the Manx Wildlife Trust’s conservation priorities and the island’s evolving biosphere narrative.
“Being named Biosphere Artist in Residence is a wonderful opportunity to translate the living language of the Isle of Man into sound and image,” Dudley said. “I’m excited to work with local habitats—from coastal dunes to moorland and woodlands—and to give a voice to the creatures and ecosystems that often go unheard.”
What the Residency Entails
The Artist in Residence program is structured to be a year-long journey, with public engagement at its core. Dudley will engage with schools, community groups, and festivals, offering workshops that blend art-making with nature appreciation. Her residencies may include site-specific soundscapes created from field recordings gathered on Manx lands, visual works inspired by changes in habitats, and performances that weave natural acoustics into contemporary music.
Her work will also contribute to ongoing educational programs that illuminate the importance of biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable land use. By presenting accessible, thought-provoking art, the residency aims to foster a sense of stewardship and wonder about the island’s natural environments.
Why Biosphere Residencies Matter
Biosphere residencies like this exist at the intersection of culture and conservation. They offer a platform for artists to deepen public engagement with environmental issues while providing researchers with new ways to share data and findings with broader audiences. On the Isle of Man, where landscapes—from rugged cliffs to wild moorlands—are an intrinsic part of daily life, animated, thoughtful art can help people connect emotionally with conservation goals.
Previous residents have left a lasting imprint by partnering with schools and local organizations, creating a ripple effect that broadens participation in science and nature. Dudley’s project is highly anticipated to continue that trajectory, bringing fresh voices and perspectives to the island’s biosphere conversations.
What to Expect in the Coming Months
Throughout the year, audiences can expect a program of public events, intimate artist talks, and outdoor installations that respond to seasonal shifts and environmental changes. Dudley’s work will likely explore themes of listening, memory, and the delicate balance between human activity and wildlife. For those interested in the arts or in understanding the Isle of Man’s natural heritage more deeply, the residency offers a compelling invitation to explore nature through a creative lens.
Stay tuned for announced dates and locations as the Manx Wildlife Trust rolls out a calendar of performances, workshops, and collaborative pieces that promise to reveal the island’s living biosphere in new, resonant ways.
