Grizedale Arts

It also owns and runs a hybrid pub / arts centre The Farmer's Arms at Lowick, a listed building that was purchased with the support of investors and donors during the Covid19 pandemic.

The focus of the organisation is on developing emerging artists and producing experimental projects that demonstrate the function of art as an everyday aspect of a worthwhile and productive life.

Bill created the Theatre in the Forest, a 230-seater venue, which attracted entertainers such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Dame Judi Dench, Julian Lloyd Webber and Kenny Ball.

The Gallery in the Forest was re-purposed as studio and pop-up exhibition space as the organisation re-orientated towards a younger, emergent generation of artists and their diverse and sometimes challenging ideas about the rural environment.

Once owned by John Ruskin and sporadically a working farm until the 1950s, architects Sutherland Hussey were employed to transform the farmhouse and barns into an artists' residency base, opening in 2009 by Sir Nicholas Serota of Tate.

With a fundraising campaign that attracted the support of local and international donors and investors they purchased the pub and re-opened in 2021, offering - alongside food and drink - arts, crafts and gardening classes as well as talks and events.

Grizedale Arts' projects have included: Artists who have been involved with the Grizedale Arts programme include: Anna Best, Jordan Baseman, David Blandy, Kathrin Böhm, Simon Poulter, Marcus Coates, Karen Guthrie & Nina Pope, Duncan McLaren, Olivia Plender, Lorrice Douglas, Juneau/projects, Kerry Stewart, Daniel Sturgis, Emily Wardill, Graeme Roger, Rob Kesseler, Ken Russell, Kevin Reid, Jen Lui, Tim Olden, Simon & Tom Bloor, Matt Stokes, Nathaniel Mellors, Bedwyr Williams, public works, myvillages.org, Mark Wallinger, Jeremy Deller, Tim Olden, Olaf Breuning, Mark Gubb, Pablo Bronstein, Bryan & Laura Davies, Phil Collins, Spartacus Chetwynd, Harold Offeh, Jay Yung, Dorian Moore, Alex Frost, Guest Room & Barnaby Hosking.