Businesses get chance to star in Blackpool’s magical family festival

Investment from Arts Council England, Blackpool BID and VisitBlackpool, together with support from key organisations in Blackpool, have enabled Showzam! to go ahead for a ninth fun-packed year.

But more support is needed to enhance the four-day festival’s wow factor as organisers look to bring some of the finest circus and cabaret stars to the town during February’s half-term holiday.

Last year Showzam! attracted more than 25,000 visitors to Blackpool, boosting the town’s economy by an estimated £2m.

Arts organisation LeftCoast – which is organising Showzam! for a second successive year – is now offering local businesses the opportunity to support and be part of the festival and has unveiled a series of attractive sponsorship packages to suit all budgets (see notes below for full details).

Julia Turpin, Executive Director at LeftCoast, Blackpool and Wyre, said: “Showzam! is a festival loved by both residents and visitors alike. In order to secure its future we really need businesses to get behind it.

“Reductions in funding mean we have to think differently about how Showzam! is supported. If your business has benefited or you have just enjoyed the artistic mayhem that comes to town each year, this is your chance to be part of making sure it continues.

“Having a more diverse range of income for the festival will enable us to build on the high quality experience that everyone has come to expect and continue to attract high quality national and international artists into the town.”

Sponsorship packages range from £150 right through to £15,000 for a business which would like to be the festival’s headline sponsor.

Together with the Arts Council England’s £45,000 grant, Showzam! has won support from Blackpool Business Improvement District (BID), VisitBlackpool, the Winter Gardens and The Blackpool Tower. The 2016 festival now forms part of a town-wide initiative bringing together key organisations to create this unique event.

As well as Showzam! Central, which acts as the festival’s creative and fun hub in the Winter Gardens, visitors and locals will be able to revel in a riotous half term of fun which includes the UK premier of circus greats Akoreacro.

The French company is currently touring Europe to sell-out crowds and will be headlining at The Blackpool Tower Circus during the festival which will be staged from February 13. 

The ever-popular Showzam! Carnival Ball returns to the world famous Tower Ballroom on Saturday February 13 with the theme ‘Decadence Through The Ages’.

LeftCoast will unveil Showzam’s full events programme next month which is set to include a stunning outdoor event that, although currently under wraps, promises to take the breath away of half-term crowds. 

Michael Williams, Managing Director of Winter Gardens Blackpool, said: “The Winter Gardens has worked with Showzam! since its inception in 2008 and we are delighted we continue to be the venue for Showzam! Central.

“It is a fantastic event that brings visitors into the resort during what is historically a quiet time of year for most seaside towns.

“The financial support Showzam! is receiving from the Arts Council is extremely welcome, however it is essential that as many businesses as possible do support the event so everyone can continue to benefit from the increased footfall in resort during Showzam!”

Cllr Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Despite cuts from Government, we have

continued to support Showzam! financially, as well as offering promotional support for the festival through VisitBlackpool.

“Showzam! brings more tourists in to town during the February half term, who in turn spend money in our cafes, shops and attractions and contribute to a stronger local economy.

“These sponsorship packages can really help those businesses to cash in on Showzam! by continuing to make it a regular event, as well as offering good opportunities to promote their company.”

For more information about any of the sponsorship packages contact Helen Frost, Audience Development Officer, on 01253 477973.

Tickets for Showzam! events – including Carnival Ball and Akoreacro at The Tower Circus – are available to buy now on the Showzam! website www.showzam.co.uk