THE SHOW GOES ON – LEFTCOAST’S PIONEERING ARTS PROGRAMME AWARDED THREE MORE YEARS INVESMENT
21 October 2015
by Visit Blackpool
LeftCoast is delighted to have secured continued investment from Arts Council England as part of their Creative People and Places scheme. The decision gives LeftCoast a further three years working across both Blackpool and Wyre from October 2016 when the programme was originally due to end.
The investment is a massive vote of confidence in the programme which has, since 2013, delivered a wide variety of projects from meaningful creative experiences in communities to show stopping events and festivals attracting large audiences. Underpinning the programme is a swathe of talent and professional development opportunities for the local arts sector alongside a series of events, talks and innovative art commissioning projects aimed at inspiring and empowering communities to take the lead.
During the past two years LeftCoast has developed partnerships between communities and artists including ‘SpareParts’ – a first of its kind co-created transport and arts themed festival in conjunction with Fleetwood Festival of Transport. It has also pioneered arts engagement projects on larger housing estates with creative approaches to play, food and growing activity with Blackpool Coastal Housing tenants. Communities have also been encouraged to take the lead with over twenty small commissioning awards being offered and two large scale commissions taking place with Rossall Beach and Claremont residents. Spectacle and international quality work has been a big part of the programme wowing audiences across the Fylde Coast with Wired Aerial Theatre’s As The World Tipped presented at Blackpool Cricket Club for two special free performances in September of 2014, alongside Colombian circus company Circolombia selling out to audiences as part of the annual Showzam! circus festival.
LeftCoast has also been integral to helping local organisations secure investment for other creative projects. Earlier in the year LeftCoast invested in Blackpool Council’s Illuminations bid to help secure the £2million Coastal Communities Fund for the LightPool project to creatively rejuvenate the 103 year old lights. Grassroots organisations Must Die Records and Jobs, Friends and Houses have also benefitted from the support of the team, both securing their first ‘Grants for the Arts’ awards from Arts Council England to create a new experimental music festival and develop photography skills with people in recovery from addiction.
The success allows LeftCoast to further develop its initiatives with communities, with an emphasis on involvement in decision making and empowering them to create and deliver their own projects. LeftCoast will also continue to work with its partners – Blackpool Coastal Housing, Wyre Council, Blackpool Council, Merlin and Blackpool Grand Theatre – to sustain and increase the arts and cultural offer across Blackpool and Wyre as part of a new cultural vision for the area.
Julia Turpin, Executive Director of LeftCoast, said:
“We’re incredibly pleased that Arts Council England have decided to continue their investment in the area. This is a huge vote of confidence not just in LeftCoast but in Blackpool and Wyre as a place where great art can be developed and engaged with.”
“This support will ensure that we are able to continue the work we have been doing to build demand for high quality creative product and to use the arts as a catalyst for change.”
John Donnellon, Chief Executive at Blackpool Coastal Housing and Chair of the LeftCoast Steering Group, added:
“We’re delighted that Arts Council England is backing another three years of the programme. The work which LeftCoast have been doing over the past two years has been invaluable in raising the bar in artistic quality and challenging perceptions about what is on offer to people in the area.”
Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader Blackpool Council, added:
“This is great news for local people and for the visitor economy. By having a vibrant arts and creative scene we’re able to provide opportunities for residents to participate in high quality activities and also attract cultural tourists into the town through changing perceptions on a national level.”
Michael Ryan, Director of Places at Wyre Council, added:
“Wyre is really lucky to have LeftCoast for another three years. The work the team has been doing in the area has been outstanding and has seen some great companies work with our communities. It has been especially good to see The Mount Pavilion coming to life with creative activities for families and the creative partnership which has been forged with Fleetwood Festival of Transport and our staff at Wyre Council’s Arts and Events team.”
Ruth Eastwood, Chief Executive at Blackpool Grand Theatre, added:
“The work which LeftCoast has been doing to bring together arts and cultural providers locally is essential to ensure that we have a joined up offer in the town. With so much for audiences to choose from it is essential that everyone pulls together to make the right offer, at the right time, in the right way – and LeftCoast is the perfect vehicle to do just that.”
Kate Shane, General Manager at The Blackpool Tower, added:
“It is always a delight to work with LeftCoast, whether that be on Showzam! when they bring the very highest quality performers to our fabulous venues, or in the development of the LightPool project. Having an independent arts organisation in the area which can pull in high calibre companies is a huge plus and adds something really special to what the Fylde Coast can offer.”
For more information about LeftCoast visit www.leftcoast.org.uk, call 01253 477973 or email info@leftcoast.org.uk