Sapporo is a modern city on the Japanese north Island of Hokkaido founded in the Meiji period of Japan's modernization (1886-1912). The Japanese developed Hokkaido to gain access to its coal as well as to strategically defend the country against Russia. The indigenous population are the Ainu, who finally received official recognition in 2008. The Island’s main city of Sapporo is built on a grid like New York, and is easy to navigate.

I'm in Sapporo, Japan, undertaking a Curatorial Research Residency with S-AIR to find out about how the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster has impacted on artists practices. I'm working with S-AIR to organise an exhibition and event to take place next summer alongside the Sapporo International Arts Festival 2014.

Art Gene is launching the 'Seldom Seen' Islands of Barrow Route Guide on Wednesday 4th September, 2013 at the Art Gene Gallery in Barrow-in-Furness.

The 'Transnational Nuclear Perspectives' symposium took place on Sat 27th July as part of the ICHSTM: Knowledge at work congress at Manchester University, 2013.

Last week saw the first Nuclear Culture site visit to the HMS Courageous in Plymouth. Artists Nick Crowe, Ian Rawlinson and Susan Schuppli as well as curators Ele Carpenter and Lucia Garavaglia spent an eventful couple of days in Plymouth, a beautiful city full of palm trees and sea views. As well as being immersed in the Cold War logic of nuclear submarines, the trip provided an opportunity to get a quick overview of contemporary art in Plymouth and the culture of the city.