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Tout Quarry Sculpture Park - where sculpture and environment meet Tout Quarry worked commercially from c.1780 - 1982 was given a new lease of life in 1983 by artist giving back through a sense of place to the quarry where in the past so much had been quarried for great buildings in London and around the world. The work of artists has created vantage point where sculpture meets the environment, its geology, ecology and working histories. Over 70 sculptures can be found amongst a network of labyrinths and gullies, carved into the living rock face, extracted boulders or worked from the landscape itself. Tout Quarry Stone carving and sculpture workshops - carving stone in its place of origin The workshops run from May to September each year for beginners and all levels of skill. There is level access with a screed floor and light tarpaulin for weather cover. Tuition is given by experienced carvers and sculptors in direct carving, architectural detail and letter cutting. At the start of the course there is a selection of freshly quarried Portland stone, the finest of carving stones, soft enough to carve, yet extremely durable. Working with stone in the quarry, where the air is very pure and clean, inspires new ideas where the changing qualities of natural light help to influence and develop new sculptural forms. Courses are run for the general public over the summer and schools, colleges and university groups during term time. The Trust runs elective and research units and a 1 year MA by Independent Project validated through the University of Brighton. Independent Quarry and the Drill Hall - a new model for quarry regeneration A partnership between the Trust, the community, Albion Stone plc, landowners the Crown Estate and the new Portland Academy, is creating a new landscape for the 21st century in Independent Quarry which has recently come to the end of its working life. The new landscape will be a resource for sharing knowledge, skills and creativity, where the past informs the present leading to new possibilities for the future. Above all the quarry will be a place to learn and give back to the Earth. A wealth of new landforms and features integrated into the quarry will enable people to interact with 150 million years of earth history and radiate a new energy and interest. The project is central is the wider network of quarry environments, known collectively as the Quarry Park, within the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site. Click here for more information about the Drill Hall Click here for PSQT Mission and Vision
 Further reading: Mineral Industry Report MA/2/3/006: Independent Quarry: A new model for regeneration http://www.sustainableaggregates.com/rprts_revs/rr_theme3.htm Mineral Industry Report MA/5/3/007: Cultural Landscapes and Stories of the Earth http://www.sustainableaggregates.com/rprts_revs/rr_communication.htm
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