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From world to contemporary music and vibrant spoken word talent at the new Speakers’ Corner, via a massive injection of family-friendly fun from creative workshops, hilarious street theatre and escapist entertainment, the programme for Arts by the Sea 2023 is complete. 

Bournemouth’s celebratory festival of arts, culture, people and place, Arts by the Sea, has revealed its final wave of programming for the 2023 event, taking place from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October. An exciting music programme at the Bandstand awaits as does a brand new Speakers’ Corner area of the region’s most celebrated wordsmiths. Plus details of a fun-packed family-friendly schedule which features so much street theatre, creative workshops, and playful and escapist entertainment that guests – of all ages – will be spoilt for choice.

Returning to Bournemouth’s beautiful beaches, gardens and outdoor spaces, 120,000 visitors are set to descend on the free-to-attend Arts by the Sea for another exhilarating weekend of participatory intriguing art and large-scale spectaculars. For 2023, the festival invites guests to take a MOMENT, be present, and experience the special things happening all around.

For those seeking moments to bring the family together, this latest announcement is jam packed. Guests can seek out the hilarious Blockbuster Factory by Cat and Mouse Theatre as they roam the streets looking for passersby to cast in their blockbuster movie, where all props are bananas.  Or the mobile TOAST Kitchen by Pif Paf as they perform a show of wild dancing, lashings of live music and an intimate sharing of food. For music loving families, the Orchestra of Objects is a must – a creative mix of fun, free-play music-making where all the instruments are made from unwanted objects and guaranteed to put smiles on faces.

These activities, plus many more are part of the special Family Trail at Arts by the Sea. It’s connected to Arts Award, a national arts qualification for children and young people awarded to anyone who fills in the official Arts Award booklet (available to collect from Arts2Educate at the festival) with notes and drawings from their experience. Over the weekend, the playful Arts2Educate will be running creative workshops where little ones can connect with the joy of making their own games as well as getting hands on with some classics in a series of enjoyable artistic activities.

Also announced in this final wave are three must-visit events. For the first time, Arts by the Sea will stage Speakers’ Corner in association with Bourn Mouthy Poetry, which will showcase of the best wordsmiths, lyricists and poets from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s vibrant spoken word scene.

The Star Of The Show activation by The Photo Lounge is also a must. Escapist entertainment for all the family, festival goers can pose to create their own video postcard using a 360 camera with the MOMENT captured forever and available to share on socials.

For anyone fascinated by all things creative, music, performing arts, arts and design, the Bournemouth & Poole College takeover at 60 Million Postcards is the place to be. Saturday will showcase a vibrant array of exceptional young bands, actors, singers, and dancers. While Sunday gets interactive with a variety of workshops for all the family led by teams in fine art, graphics and fashion. Attendees can take part in creating an enormous fabric collaborative collage in memory of the late Dame Vivienne Westwood.

Music is always guaranteed to create a MOMENT whether losing oneself on the dancefloor or in the joy of discovering a new band. At Arts by the Sea 2023, it has lined up an eclectic mix of talent to appear on the Bandstand.

Highlights include a melting pot of world sounds from the highly skilled Ukrainian singer and musician, Eka who plays an ancient, 64-stringed Ukrainian instrument known as the Bandura. Gugge 2000 will bring the happy vibes of Sweden’s native sound Guggenmusik, and from the shore of Lake Malawi, one-man rootsband, Gasper Nali will dish up a danceable AfroBeats show.

Even more diverse performances are in store from Dorset’s fastest rising pop stars BLVCK VIØLET who stormed the Top 5 of the BBC Introducing Live Lounge competition. The psychedelic sound of High Shelf Remedy who combine 60’s folk revival influenced by trip hop, dub, and blues. And Brighton’s musical misfits, Town Of Cats who’ll have festival goers up and dancing to their sleazy keys and funk rhythms accompanied by their fascinating wordplay.

Guest won’t be able to resist joining in when they witness the talents of the Solent-based, Love Soul Choir and Dorset favourites, Funky Little Choir, who’ll both create mass sing-a-longs in perfect harmony as they perform contemporary hits from The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Dua Lipa and many more.

With the already announced world premiere of PORTAL on Bournemouth Beach (a 15m tall, towering light sculpture) plus over 100 creatives both local and national scheduled to appear, it’s set to be another stimulating year of art and culture, offering depth, insight and excitement.

Guests can plan their visit and find out times, dates and locations of all activities at www.artsbythesea.co.uk and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates @artsbythesea.