As the originator and coordinator of Lie of the Land, Sarah Cole's role was to curate artists with an experimental pedagogic approach; involving school staff, pupils and the local community in a series of collaborative interventions.

Lie of the Land was a three year bespoke programme of creative enquiry in a primary school in Basildon. Based on site-specific research, the work focussed on the pastoral provision within the school, exploring the rural/spiritual ambivalent meaning of the word within an academic urban context. The image of the rural and the natural landscape has been used as a medium for more conceptual explorations of community.

A giant nest occupied the hall for a week, artefacts were planted, then found, labelled and curated, using metal detectors in the school grounds, and support staff were engaged in developing a manifesto that promotes process and open-ended critical enquiry. The Essex Symphony Orchestra also came to the school to accompany the screening of a video (made by Mark Storor with student) with a live performance of music by Gustav Mahler.

Lie of the Land formed the foundation from which Nest emerged.

Artists involved in this programme were:
Julian Walker
Mark Storor
Isa Suarez
Jules Maxwell
Rachel Anderson