News

* The WORLD premiere of PORTAL by Lucid Creates *

 

* 3D Projection Mapping on Bournemouth Civic Centre by The Media Workshop *

 

* A BCP bespoke audio-visual performance curated and mixed by DJ Yoda *

 

* Annie Nicholson from Fandangoe Kid STUDIO (Artist In Residence) *

 

King Ramps Pop Up Skate Park

 

‘Light Hearted’ LED interactive installation by Gavin Morris

 

Big Gay Disco Bike from Fatt Projects

 

VIEW THE PROGRAMME HERE 

 

Bournemouth’s celebratory arts and culture, Arts by the Sea Festival, is excited to announce the first wave of programming for the 2023 event. It includes the world premiere of PORTAL – a towering art installation by the renowned design studio Lucid Creates; mesmerising projection mappings on the Civic Centre by The Media Workshop featuring a bespoke audio-visual performance by the pioneering DJ Yoda plus exclusive work from the internationally acclaimed artist Annie Nicholson from Fandangoe Kid STUDIO who is this year’s Artist In Residence; a pop-up skate park with demos and workshops hosted by pro BMXers and skateboarders, playful interactive art installations and more besides. 

 

Returning to Bournemouth’s beautiful beaches, gardens and outdoor spaces from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October, Arts by the Sea Festival is gearing up to deliver another exhilarating weekend of participatory and accessible art, across many forms. Attracting 120,000 visitors each year of all ages, the 2023 programme will follow the theme of MOMENT, where guests are invited to connect to their own unique moment through an intriguing mix of large-scale spectaculars, interactive art, theatre, dance, music and more. 

 

Arts by the Sea is thrilled to announce that the headline opening spectacular at the Civic Centre is staged by digital arts collective, The Media Workshop. Transforming Bournemouth’s landmark building with a colourful projection mapping of 3D images and video, guests are in for a real treat on Friday evening when DJ Yoda takes to the stage. In an extended performance, the respected turntablist will live mix a bespoke piece of audio-visual featuring video moments taken from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 

 

Residents from across BCP are being invited to dig through their video archives and share their own special moments with the festival on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtags #bcpmoments and #artsbythesea2023. 

 

Each evening, the projection mappings will also feature the work of the multidisciplinary artist Annie Nicholson from Fandangoe Kid STUDIO, who is also Arts by the Sea’s Artist In Residence for 2023. Annie’s inviting art is made for the public realm to kickstart dialogue around the subjects of loss and grief. Festival goers can discover Annie’s brightly coloured statements as they wander through Bournemouth’s town centre as she transforms everyday objects with wonderful visuals. 

 

Another must-visit spectacular is the world premiere of PORTAL – a brand new art installation on Bournemouth Beach from Wednesday 27th September to Wednesday 4th October. From the multi-disciplinary design studio, Lucid Creates – who are renowned for creating extraordinary pieces in places from Glastonbury to Wembley – PORTAL towers at 15m tall. Its vast, giant archway is lined with lights which move and shift to create a mesmerising and ethereal display of glowing light and patterns. Visitors will be transported in a breath-taking moment to a place where anything can happen and where unexpected apparitions appear among the well-known landscapes. 

 

Back by popular demand, the Pop Up Skate Park will return to Arts by the Sea in 2023. Hosted by the world class King Ramps skate events company, a hive of participatory workshops and daredevil demos awaits. From open public sessions with the UK’s top Pro BMXers and Skateboarders, to an over 40’s skate session presented by WAVES POOLE plus an under 16’s Skate and BMX session, people of all ages and abilities can get involved, whether a complete novice or for those wanting to hone their skills. 

 

As ever, there’s a diverse selection of things to do and see at Arts by the Sea. Digital, interactive installation ‘Light Hearted’ is also a must, staged by Gavin Morris, the creator of Digital Funfair. Visitors are welcomed to a large LED heart which lights up when two people hold hands. This playful sculpture is both accessible and fun which as well as providing a mesmerising spectacle to the festival, offers the perfect Instagrammable moment too.

 

Also announced amongst this first wave of programming is the thoroughly entertaining Big Gay Disco Bike. It is exactly what it sounds like, a feel-good pop-up big gay disco performed on a bike! From the Birmingham-based queer performance company, Fatt Projects, festival goers can join the cabaret superstars and drag icons in the making, on the golden disco bike as it brings the D-I-S-C-O directly to the streets of Bournemouth. 

 

Approximately 100 artists, performers and musicians, from the international to the local, will use the power of creativity to ensure every single person has a MOMENT to remember at Arts by the Sea 2023. With much more to be announced, it’s set to be another stimulating year of art and culture, offering depth, insight and excitement. In a lifetime of experiences, it’s the MOMENTS that stand out.