The Canopy

2026 – Present

The Canopy will be a living, breathing arts space which hosts

artists, growers and locals to build connections, make art, and rest. 

We plan to build The Canopy on a derelict or brownfield site, creating a biodiverse and sustainable space for artistic practice, which also supports wildlife, grows food and provides opportunities for experimentation with agroecology, heritage craft, and living architecture.

The central feature of The Canopy will be The Hundred Year Theatre, an ambitious experiment in ‘Baubotanik’ architecture which uses living trees to create structures. The Hundred Year Theatre will be a living auditorium equipped to rehearse new works being developed on-site, and to receive professional touring shows.

In a time characterised by a sense of diminished possibilities, and impending catastrophes, we plan to offer this defiant place, the very fabric and structure of which speaks to the importance of dreaming up new, better worlds.

What has happened so far?

• The Bare Project team have visited sites across the UK, learning from established projects such as Art Gene’s Allotment Soup in Barrow and Dalston Eastern Curve Gardens in London;
• We’ve begun developing our capital fundraising strategy;
• We’ve consulted with a permaculture specialist to explore sustainable and environmentally responsible ways to shape the space, ensuring that our approach considers the land and its long-term viability.
• We’ve worked with Sheffield architectural practice Studio Polpo to develop top-level cost estimates and key figures to inform future funding applications.
• We’ve met with Regather, a local co-operative of local people working to improve food access in Sheffield to discuss the practical and legal implications of purchasing/leasing land and requesting planning permission.
• We’ve had illuminating conversations with Wilf Middleton and Dr Ferdinand Ludwig from Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture at the Technical University Munich. They continue to support and guide us on best practices when building with trees.
• We have also worked with the Department of Architecture and Landscape at the University of Sheffield to develop The Canopy as part of their Live Projects initiative.  

This is going to be our most ambitious project yet: it’s going to take a number of years to develop it, and we hope it will outlast us! If you are interested in being a part of this work, please do get in touch.