Common Ground is an arts and environmental charity that was founded in 1982 with a mission to link nature with culture and use celebration of the everyday as a starting point for local action. The charity has raised awareness of a variety of environmental issues through its innovative projects, which have involved public participation; the commissioning of new artistic works; the organisation of exhibitions, events and conferences; the launching of new calendar customs; and the publication of books, pamphlets, newsletters, leaflets and postcards. Many of the projects – in particular, ‘Parish Maps’, the ‘Campaign for Local Distinctiveness’ and ‘Apple Day’ – have proven to be highly sustainable, continuing long after Common Ground’s active involvement in them ceased.
The archive has rich potential for interdisciplinary research in a wide range of areas, including environmental studies, geography, literature, visual arts, cultural studies, sociology and business studies. The archive comprises material relating to all aspects of Common Ground’s activities, and includes project planning papers, correspondence, reports, financial papers, research material, press clippings, photographs, promotional material, and publications.