Why Outdoors Matters
Outdoor arts hold a unique power and potential that extends far beyond entertainment. It transforms everyday environments into extraordinary spaces, breaking down barriers to access and engaging diverse communities in shared experiences. Outdoor performances can spark important conversations, inspire social cohesion, and encourage public participation in cultural life. At a time when fostering community connections and addressing social issues is crucial, outdoor arts provide an invaluable platform for dialogue, inclusion, and collective imagination.
Photo by Hello Content
Third Version Creative has a strong and long-standing investment in outdoor arts. We have curated ambitious public programmes, commissioned major site-specific works, and played a critical role in shaping strategic developments across the sector. Our extensive experience includes collaboration on influential strategic plans, policy papers, and advocacy efforts, all contributing to the sustained growth and evolution of outdoor arts nationally and internationally.
We are deeply engaged in shaping the future of outdoor arts - and this year are proud to be collaborating closely with Outdoor Arts UK, Without Walls, and 101 Outdoor Arts to create a comprehensive, long-term strategic framework that will guide the sector through the next decade. This collaborative effort is designed to enhance sustainability, equity, innovation, and audience engagement across outdoor arts.
In addition to this strategy work, we are excited to announce our contribution to an upcoming publication focused on outdoor arts. Set for release later this year, our chapter authored together with Rachel Clare from our friends and partner Crying Out Loud explores key trends, significant challenges, and exciting opportunities within the outdoor arts sector, offering insights from our experience and collaborative dialogues with industry experts.
Outdoor arts continue to play a central role in our work - Weather Machine, which captivated audiences with its innovative storytelling and unique visual spectacle during its tour across the UK. Additionally, we’re thrilled to share that the groundbreaking production, Future Cargo originally conceived by Requardt and Rosenberg, is embarking on a new international adventure.
Developed as a concept model in partnership with the Greek National Opera, we are taking the lead on its next tour across Europe, bringing their vision of contemporary performance to broader audiences and opening conversations about the intersection of arts, technology, and urban spaces.
This year also brings exciting new outcomes from our Stepping Out Creative Lab, a programme that we produced back in 2022 with support from Without Walls and 101 Outdoor Arts. This initiative was dedicated to nurturing emerging voices, championing particularly South Asian artists exploring new directions in the outdoors.
Naditia Shakardass, and Shyam Dattani & Mira Salat are debuting their first outdoor works this summer—performances which began as seeds planted in Stepping Out. Naditia’s work pushes boundaries with a deeply powerful narrative exploring the environment, while Shyam and Mira’s piece offers an immersive experience that blends contemporary storytelling with innovative use of public space. Both artists exemplify the fresh and diverse perspectives needed to drive the outdoor arts sector forward, ensuring it remains inclusive, relevant, and representative of contemporary society.
Garbh from Shyam Dattani & Mira Salat is a South Asian outdoor dance work bringing an authentic Indian Village experience to Festival audiences. It has been commissioned by Richmond Festival of Ideas and supported by Arts Council England. Roots to Rise from Nandita Shankardass is a discovery of ancestry, agriculture, ecological activism and the wisdom of women - its been commissioned by Without Walls - and tours across Festivals in the UK this summer.
Hope you manage to catch them both.
Photo by Simon Richardson
As we eagerly anticipate summer, preparations are underway for an exciting lineup of outdoor arts events, festivals, performances, and gatherings. We're looking forward to vibrant community celebrations, innovative new commissions, and collaborative projects that engage artists, audiences, and spaces in meaningful ways.
Here’s our top picks of some of the other outdoor projects we’re looking forward to catching this summer:
At Burning Man 2025, Danish recycle-artist Thomas Dambo will unveil Rose Wonders, a colossal, captivating troll sculpture crafted entirely from reclaimed wood. Standing over 20 feet tall, Rose is the latest in Dambo’s beloved international troll family, who aim to reconnect humans with nature and promote sustainability. After traveling all the way from Denmark, Rose will stand tall on the open playa, encouraging festival-goers to explore her intricate construction and reflect upon their relationship with the environment.
Rose’s narrative is especially poignant, portraying an ancient being who is endlessly curious about human behavior and the impact we have on the planet. Dambo’s trolls are globally renowned for blending playful storytelling with powerful ecological messages, and Rose Wonders promises to be no different—inviting reflection, joy, and dialogue. Following its Burning Man debut, the sculpture will move permanently to a botanical garden, extending its ecological message well beyond the festival.
This summer, Manchester’s streets become the stage for an extraordinary spectacle. The Herds, led by Amir Nizar Zuabi (the creator of Little Amal), brings a mesmerizing procession of life-sized animal puppets to the city’s public spaces. Crafted from sustainable materials, these massive giraffes, elephants, and other creatures will traverse through Manchester, Rochdale, and Wigan, captivating communities and raising awareness of the climate crisis.
Beyond the striking visual impact, The Herds uniquely blends art with activism. Hundreds of local volunteers will animate these gentle giants, making the performance a genuine community experience. Originating from Africa, this symbolic migration represents the real-life consequences faced by wildlife due to environmental challenges, delivering a powerful message through immersive public theatre.
A free, family-friendly event, The Herds is set to be a memorable highlight of Manchester International Festival’s 2025 edition, inviting audiences to reflect, marvel, and engage deeply with the urgent issues of our time.
Imagine streets becoming stages, rooftops turning into trampolines, and everyday architecture transformed into breathtaking set pieces. Belgian collective Be Flat returns with their acclaimed show Follow Me at Oerol Festival 2025, bringing heart-stopping urban acrobatics directly into the charming village settings of Terschelling Island.
Performers will scale walls, leap across rooftops, and balance precariously on balconies, all while guiding captivated audiences through streets and alleyways.
This thrilling, interactive show challenges viewers to rediscover their surroundings as dynamic, playful spaces. Each performance invites audience members to physically follow the acrobatic troupe, making the show deeply engaging, unpredictable, and wonderfully communal.
Follow Me is celebrated not only for its physical daring but also for its innovative use of public spaces. It beautifully embodies Oerol’s ethos: blurring the lines between performance and environment, art and everyday life, ensuring every spectator leaves seeing their surroundings in a spectacularly new way.
More soon.
S
