An arts charity from Great Yarmouth is taking the lead role in a national initiative to use circus and street arts to boost the economies of seaside resorts.
Great Yarmouth's SeaChange Arts is making waves nationally to reanimate some of the country's coastal and seaside towns with its Coasters project.
And this summer world class circus and street art will be performed around England's coastline in the second year of a three-year Arts Council England funded Coasters project.
SeaChange Arts leads a consortium of 12 organisations with the aim of helping transform perceptions of coastal towns by bringing touring circus and street arts shows to the English seaside towns. The Arts Council funded initiative enjoyed a successful first year in 2016 as more than 500,000 people enjoyed Coasters partner events.
Coasters shows that can be seen at Great Yarmouth's Out There festival this year on September 16/17 include Garbuix by Spanish company Cirque Vavel, and Sense of Unity – a new commission that brings together two of Europe's most in demand outdoor arts companies in Worldbeaters from the UK and Germany's Dundu. Together they are creating an ambitious night-time promenade spectacle.
Joe Mackintosh, director of SeaChange Arts, said: 'Circus and street performance are part of the heritage of English seaside holidaymaking. Coasters shows look to celebrate this but bring a contemporary perspective to it. Through performance and associated development projects in each location, we're seeking to change people's perceptions of culture on the coast, develop their organisations and build lasting relationships with partners and audiences.'
With Coasters set up to encourage more people to visit seaside towns, Hedley Swain, area director, South East, Arts Council England, added: 'Coasters is an exciting project and we're really pleased that organisations from all parts of England have chosen to be partners. Coasters' groundbreaking new circus and street arts performances offer a wonderful way to reignite our passion for heading to these coastal towns. I look forward to it strengthening the local arts offer, whilst also creating a lasting legacy of increased visitor numbers.'
Visit www.seachangearts.org.uk and www.coastersnetwork.org.uk for further details.
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