HAPPIDROME

About

HAPPIDROME is an artist-led project platform, located at a disused WW2 radar base on Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall, UK. Since 2007, artists Sara Bowler and Elizabeth Masterton have been working with the support of the land manager, Natural England, to devise and present new work by invited artists in the 50+ extant radar buildings (some of which are intact, others open to the elements), on the Downs and online.

Inspired by the technological pioneering of previous inhabitants, HAPPIDROME is a space for free roaming artistic inquiry; a place for artists, curators, scientists, engineers and writers to work together, to experiment, take risks, succeed and fail. It's a field laboratory for experiments in light and magic, stealth and shadow, noise and silence, infrared and ultraviolet, channelling the pioneering spirit of WW2 radar science and the stratospheric ambitions of the satellite era.

Programmes on-site take place from May-September. There's curated work, artists working on-site and writers to document and interrogate the process and happ(i)nings, which will be broadcast via the web. Talks and events by artists, scientists, writers and curators, open sessions and audience interaction are publicised online.

Events open to the public are of a relatively short duration, ranging from a day to two weeks. Buildings are only open during events. Artworks of longer durations will be sited outside on the Downs. Online activities take place year round.

Indoor events normally take place in the old receiver building (R-Block). The building is locked and gated outside of these events but there is a viewing area on the roof, accessible by stairs. To get to the R-Block leave the car park on foot and follow the main track. The R-Block is directly in front of you and the main entrance is around the back (continue following the path and take the next path first right).