You’ll find the arts in some shape or form around almost every corner in Morecambe. Whether it be the Eric Morecambe statue as part of the Tern Project, murals celebrating the resort’s past, or the Art Deco masterpieces inside the iconic Midland Hotel and the outdoor gallery fronting the former Frontierland site.
Little wonder then that Deco Publique, the company who, together with Morecambe Bay Partnership, brought the striking SHIP sculpture to Half Moon Bay alongside their many other projects, have plans to celebrate the area’s cultural gems with a Morecambe Bay Triennial.
Working with London-based theCoLAB, Deco Publique will commission a wide range of artists in residence to work around Morecambe Bay during the first Triennial, planned for 2025. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Deco Publique’s launch by Elena Jackson and Lauren Zawadzki, who originally worked from their kitchen tables.
‘It feels like a lot has changed in Morecambe over the past ten years,’ said Elena. ‘We started working in Morecambe because we felt very passionate about art and culture and its transformative power on people and place. We’re committed to staying here and employing people and providing more opportunities for creative freelancers here too.’
The company are best known in Morecambe for the Vintage by the Sea festival which attracts thousands of visitors. But Deco Publique aren’t the only Morecambe-based arts organisation celebrating an anniversary this year, More Music has notched up 30 years in the West End of the resort.
Founded at a time when the town wanted to make a noise about its commitment to arts development, More Music has been the home of community made music and activities ever since. It runs weekly sessions for people of all ages and abilities as well as events which attract the crowds such as the recent Catch The Wind Kite Festival.
Executive director, Kathryn Macdonald thinks that the quality and consistency of More Music’s work along with their commitment to the area, successful partnerships and creative collaborations are the secrets to its longevity. ‘People are now recognising that music and being involved in community activities is good for your mental health and wellbeing and we’ve been doing that for 30 years.’
During their anniversary year, the organisation is compiling case studies of people who’ve been involved with their activities across the decades and this summer, a new More Music song and video produced by their young people’s Stages group will be released. The milestone will be marked during the Fun Palace weekend in October too.
Kathryn also chairs Morecambe Artist Colony (MAC), a group of local artists and creatives, passionate about using art for the town’s regeneration. MAC curate exhibitions at More Music and The Stone Jetty Café and among their key projects was the Time and Tide Bell which can be seen from the jetty.
This summer, as part of an initiative involving Time and Tide Bells nationwide, a new audio trail along Morecambe Promenade to Overton will be launched featuring stories of people who live around the Morecambe side of the Bay, set to a new soundtrack. Another Morecambe organisation driving community-led creative change is Creative West End, a partnership including the Good Things Collective, West End Morecambe (Big Local), Film Morecambe, More Music, The ReStore and residents.
The group believes that art and creativity have an important to play in the neighbourhood and that everyone should have the chance to participate in and enjoy artistic projects and opportunities.
Monthly markets are central to their plans and take place on the second Saturday of the month from 11am-4pm throughout the summer in West End Gardens. There visitors can try locally made food, listen to music, buy handmade products, and discover more about Creative West End projects and local community organisations. The markets also provide opportunities for local people to see their own creations on display from miniature gardens to a digital graffiti wall.
‘We thought a market would be a good place for people to come together and share their skills,’ said Jo Bambrough, a Creative West End director. ‘It’s a place that anyone can engage with. People who live here know what the challenges are but we are creating a culture where people can also see the opportunities.’
That ‘can do’ spirit is demonstrated wherever you go in Morecambe, as new art and cultural experiences spring up. February saw the launch of Baylight, a new light festival along the Promenade which was so successful that it will be repeated next year, and Morecambe Fringe Festival hosted by West End Playhouse is now an annual event in July.
Projects range from the relatively modest, such as new wooden benches paying homage to the town’s famous people and landmarks, to the Winter Gardens ambitious renovation plans which received £2.74 million worth of funding from Arts Council England this year. The Alhambra has had a new musical lease of life too and complements The Platform’s live entertainment programme.
And then there’s the promise of cultural activities reflecting the natural rhythms of Morecambe Bay within the eagerly awaited Eden Morecambe Project due to open in 2026.
