Edible East

Exhibitions 2025

Through the Microscope: secrets of Norfolk's changing landscape at Gressenhall Farm and Workshouse Museum, Norfolk.

17th of March to the 2nd of November 2025, museum entrance fees apply.

Join us as we journey into the microscopic world of Norfolk's landscape. Inspired by 2025 being the 400th anniversary of the use of the term 'microscope', this exhibition is part of an on-going residency at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, supported by the John Innes Centre and The Centre for Microbial Interactions, Norwich.

From microscopic fungi that support life in the soil, to single-celled algae that overwhelm freshwater ecosystems, we have responded to a range of historic and contemporary material, offering a visual and playful exploration of our relationship with the natural world.

Exhibitions 2023

Embryonic @ Unthank Artspace, 224 Unthank Rd, Norwich 2023

Jennie Pedley's exhibit is informed by our relationship with plants, cartoon cardboard cut-outs are inspired by ancient Assyrian carvings of winged human figures pollinating palm trees.

Blue gloves used by scientists researching plants resemble diagrams of chromosomes separating during plant growth.

Blue stains used in microscope slides reveal plant embryos developing within a seed, mysterious and alien until they emerge in more recognisable forms.

Thanks to Sarah Wilmot at the Library and Archives of the John Innes Centre, known as a centre of excellence for plant and microbial science.

Hopes for Health at St Martin at Palace, Norwich until October 2023

Make brass-rubbing style drawings to hang your ‘hopes for health’ onto our ‘microbe alcove’. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the Norwich Historic Church Trust headquarters.

Explore links between what we eat, our health and the microbes that help us digest our food, through the latest research from the Quadram Institute. Search the soil inspired sculpture of layered re-used packaging to discover its population of varied life-forms created by local artists including Rach Anstey-Sanders, Jennie Pedley and Tara Sampy. The sculpture is by Chris Jackson. Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays approximately 11 till 3, please check their website for exact hours.

Art Science trail about the future of food 21 -22

August 2021 to June 2022 around Norwich

Created during Covid lockdown the trail explored the the future challenges to feeding an ever-increasing population with current practises which place a heavy burden on our environment and our wildlife. It brought together artists and scientists and promoted the work of local community food growers in an outdoor trail when we couldn't visit indoor exhibitions. The content also explored links between highly processed food and health problems.

Created during Covid lockdown the trail explored the the future challenges to feeding an ever-increasing population with current practises which place a heavy burden on our environment and our wildlife. It brought togther artists and scientists and promoted the work of local community food growers in an outdoor trail when we couldn't visit indoor exhibitions. The content also explored links between highly processed food and health problems.

The People's Postcode Lottery and Norwich Research Park supported the Edible East Art Science Trail. The artworks created by local artists were inspired by the world-leading science taking place on Norwich Research Park to find more sustainable methods of food production.

Tap on a place on the map or in the list below, to see what was on.

Map created by Adrian Draigo

RemainingTrail Locations

Hungate

See the golden seeds protected within the squash In the alcove above the church doorway. The work of artist Louise Maclaren.

Formerly there was work here by Rach Astey-Sanders and Genevieve Rudd.

Previous Exhibits

St Michael at Plea

Fixing the soil. The work of artist Tara Sampy.

Castle Museum Gates

Diatoms and roots. The work of artists Kaitlin Ferguson and Jennie Pedley.

Anglia Square

Fire, soot and lichen. The work of artist Liz Mcgowan.

Cathedral Herb Garden

Fossil and food. The work of artist Louise Maclaren.

Unthank Art Space

Climate change. The work of artists Hannelore Smith, Jacques Nimki, Sophie Eade, Rachel Wright and designer Adrian Draigo.

2 Charing Cross

Find links to local opportunities with partner organisations. See artworks made by artists with the public.

14 London St
This exhibit moved to Charing Cross, Norwich NR2 4AL

Find links to local opportunities with partner organisations. See artworks made by artists with the public.

Museum of Norwich

Food, health & nature. The work of artists Holly Sandiford, Florence Eade and Jennie Pedley, in an installation conceived by Jennie Pedley.

St Margaret's Church of Art

Art of the Gut. The work of artist Jennie Pedley.

St Mary Coslany
All the People on Earth. The work of statistician / artist George Savva.

Strangers' Hall

Art work combined in a traditional composition known as a 'Vanitas' from artists: Caroline Hyde Brown, Fred Hoffman, Keron Beattie, Louize Harries, Natasha Day and Sophie Eade.

The Forum

A mysterious micro-landscape. The work of artists Keron Beattie, Sophie Eade, Natasha Day and Chris Jackson.

Norwich Research Park

Norwich Research Park is delighted to be a sponsor of the Edible East Art Science Trail! The artwork along the trail is inspired by the world-leading science taking place on Norwich Research Park. From the soil to our health, Norwich Research Park’s vision is to change lives and rethink society through pioneering research and innovation, reframing the future of research. Watch our Vision Video

The Park is home to 3,000 scientists, researchers and clinicians working in areas of the greatest importance to society today, food and health. The Park’s unique community includes a major university teaching hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , a leading university, University of East Anglia, over 150 innovative businesses and four internationally significant research institutes: John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory.