Arts by the Sea is an award-winning free arts festival which brings artists, performers and musicians to showcase their talents in Bournemouth from September 27-29. This year they are inviting you to explore and challenge your taste in art
Brilliant Bubbles
Evanescent is a light-based sculptural piece including illuminated bubble structures, that offers visitors an immersive experience transforming the festival into an experimental environment inspiring quality artistry. Hypnotic and enchanting, these extensive structures blend the intersection of art and architecture. Created by award-winning Sydney-based art practice Atelier Sisu, led by Peruvian sculptor and industrial designer Renzo B Larrivee, and architect and artist Zara Pasfield, this tactile artwork transports festivalgoers to another world. Visitors can embrace a sense of childlike wonder and playfulness as they explore the giant bubbles. This interactive experience is designed to engage the senses, spark creativity, and provide a unique and memorable adventure for all who attend.
The Circus Hoops of Jasmin Edwards
Bournemouth-based circus performer and multi-hoop specialist Jasmin Edwards is Arts by the Sea’s 2024 associate artist. Her unique work for the festival will include a satirical commentary on women’s roles in both life and art. Using her signature hooping skills, Edward’s piece will be visually spectacular while delivering a poignant message on the double standards imposed on women in performance. Her work aims to create a positive impact on individuals and entire communities, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to experience her artistry. This performance promises to be a highlight of the festival, challenging perceptions, inspiring audiences, and encouraging thoughtful dialogue around the perceptions of women in art.
Beowulf Reimagined
In a dramatic retelling of the epic poem Beowulf, Fireside will highlight the enduring relevance of this classic Anglo-Saxon saga by merging dance, circus, and live music into a dark and dangerous performance. Featuring creative contortions into imagined folklore monsters and dramatic acrobatic stunts, the show will culminate with the audience moving towards the Honey Pot to gather around the fire as the structure burns, marking the festival's climax. This collaboration between award-winning performance powerhouses Lost Dog Dance and Nikki & JD will remind audiences of the destructive nature of human power while harking back to the age-old tradition of fireside storytelling, creating a mesmerising experience for the festival’s closing evening.
A Colourful Artist in Residence
This year’s Artist in Residence for Arts by the Sea is Margate-based illustrator and designer, Rebecca Strickson. Her bold work, featuring eye-catching colour and pattern combinations, will be displayed throughout the festival, including projections on Bournemouth’s iconic Upside Down House. Strickson’s art often includes LGBTQ+ advocacy, and her festival pieces will be no exception, showcasing vibrancy and exploring themes of colour and identity. She will delve into the notion of TASTE and the many external influences that can shape audiences' opinions. Visitors can expect their tastes to be both challenged and judged as part of Strickson’s project, creating a thought-provoking experience that examines personal preferences in a unique way.
Truth & Troublemakers
Cited as one of the UK’s most inclusive theatre groups, Ramshakalicious champions performers with learning disabilities and autism, creating a diverse and uplifting space for audiences. Their new production with Hijinx, Y Gwir - Truth, explores freedom in a subversive light. These playful troublemakers use interactive and contemporary theatre techniques to delve into the world of human emotions and thoughts. Juxtaposing joyful and provocative theatre, the actors encourage their audience to join in a host of games exploring ideologies around power and control in an engaging and entertaining way. This creative chaos will have viewers questioning their ideas around freedoms and truths, making it an unforgettable act at this year’s festival.
Twist and Shine
Arts by the Sea invites visitors to interact with light sculptures created by the international studio, Kaleider. This collaboration includes South West-based producers Katie Keeler and Jocelyn Mills, artist and producer Irene Urrutia, manager Peter Vanderford, and artist and director Seth Honnor. The powerhouse team combines installation, live performance, and digitalization to craft immersive experiences for visitors to interact with. Festivalgoers can alter the sculptures to reflect their own artistic tastes, thereby participating in and contributing to the festival's creative expression. Each interconnected prism in Twist and Shine can be rotated, resulting in infinite possibilities for the final outcome, ensuring a unique and personalised experience for every visitor.
A Catwalk Extravaganza
Ghetto Fabulous specialises in dance and visual arts to entertain the public, making quality art accessible and promoting diversity and equality in the arts. At Arts by the Sea, they will host an iconic Family Catwalk Extravaganza, inviting audiences to showcase their best walk on a runway as Drag Kings and Queens and judge their modelling abilities. Four dancers will compete in a dance, fashion, and lip-sync competition, with the audience taking a turn to decide the winner by applause and noise. Participants will leave feeling empowered, embracing pride and confidence in their identity, as they celebrate the diversity of the arts community in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Poetry Takeaway
Imagine a burger van serving not food, but takeaway poems crafted with words and love. This is the Poetry Takeaway, an essential experience at Arts by the Sea. At its heart is a diverse team of talented poet chefs who create personalised poetry on the spot. Visitors share their stories, often revealing their deepest secrets, which are then transformed into bespoke poems, performed and delivered for free. This mobile Poetry Emporium breaks down barriers, making poetry accessible to all ages and backgrounds. The resulting poems evoke powerful reactions, from tears to laughter. Carefully selected poets ensure each poem resonates with the audience, creating unforgettable memories and fostering a love for poetry.
Bournemouth Beats
Bournemouth’s own rising star Delly Black mixes his Nigerian heritage with the vibrant sounds of the London music scene to create a harmonic blend of Afro-beat and Afro-fusion. Black will collaborate with award-winning saxophonist Saxy J, known for captivating audiences with his wide range of music genres, including smooth jazz, folk, Afro-pop, and blues. Together, their impressive combination of skill sets, and magnetic stage presence will offer a tantalising and unmissable performance that will have audience members young and old dancing the day away. Their unique synergy promises to create an electrifying atmosphere, ensuring that attendees have an unforgettable musical experience at Arts by the Sea, celebrating diverse musical traditions.
Fussy Foodies
This feel-good production, from Just More Productions x WOW, explores how food defines cultural identity, connecting literally with the 2024 theme of TASTE. In a beetle bug kitchen, two post-apocalyptic chefs compete for the title of best herb curator. Families can immerse themselves in the beetle bug parade, learning recipes and cheering for either the West Indian ancient herbalist or the fiery Roman herbalist gladiator. Fussy Foodies is a live cook-off of pyro-filled slapstick comedy combining circus and magic, offering a wacky and interactive exploration of cultural heritage. With upbeat music and a lively atmosphere, audiences will enjoy an unforgettable family experience filled with battling pots and pans and culinary chaos.
There over 150 performances at this year’s festival. More details at artsbythesea.co.uk
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