Early work
Archimedes Screw Fest
The Archimedes Screw Fest, produced by BLC in 2018, remains a great demonstration of how we invite people in to the space where we work—the intersection of economy, ecology, learning, arts, and culture, and how these elements can be seen together to address complex environmental challenges.
The Archimedes Screw Fest, an annual event that ran for three consecutive years, brought together ecosystems and human systems.
This free, day-long festival took place at the weir on the banks of the River Dart, site of the town's twin hyropower turbines. Blending entertainment, education and environmental stewardship, the festival also highlighted friction points—where habitat health and River Rights meets water and energy demand—and issues like the relationships between river users, (kayakers and fishermen, for example) or the lack of focus on the benefits of renewables at primary school level.
Key aspects of the festival included:
- Theatrical performances: Tim McGill of Boabab Theatre portrayed Archimedes, making the connection between ancient inventions and today's technology.
- Energy sustainability: Visitors toured the twin turbine hydropower plant, which generates approximately 1,350 MWh of clean electricity annually for the local area.
- Citizen science: Westcountry Rivers Trust provided river science training, encouraging attendees to become active participants in monitoring water quality and protecting river ecosystems.
- Environmental awareness: The event made connections between multiple systems, including political voice, education, and waterbody health. We expanded on this work through the process that resulted in the Devon Doughnut.
