Case Study for Coasters

24 February 2017

Artist Ray Lee, photographer Tony Gill, producers Activate Performing Art Coasters is a national partnership committed to delivering world-class street arts and circus. Touring dynamic ‘work of the...

Artist Ray Lee, photographer Tony Gill, producers Activate Performing Art Coasters is a national partnership committed to delivering world-class street arts and circus. Touring dynamic ‘work of the coast’, it aims to enliven and help re-imagine the culture of coastal towns for those who live and visit there. SeaChange Arts leads a consortium of 11 organisations with the shared ambition of building relationships with audiences in areas of lower engagement, developing the cultural offer, increasing visitor audiences and helping transform perceptions of coastal towns. Brilliant, exciting, engaging, entertaining and accessible, the work presented will be programmed with the coast in mind – resonant and reflective of coastal locations and audiences. Coasters Partners: SeaChange Arts – an independent arts development charity based in Great Yarmouth but collaborating internationally and dedicated to delivering outstanding Circus and Street Arts events including the annual Out There Festival. Activate, Dorset are leaders in outdoor and landscape art, producing, promoting and developing performing arts in Dorset with the belief that artists can affect and provide positive change in our communities. Worthing Theatres is the Connaught Theatre, Studio and Cinema, Pavilion Theatre and Assembly Hall. Working with renowned theatre makers, music promoters and producers throughout the UK and Europe, Worthing Theatres recently launched Summer of Circus the third largest contemporary circus festival within the UK, set to be repeated in 2017 and beyond. Hastings Borough Council is a strong supporter of arts and culture, with culture-led regeneration a key priority. It supports Stade Saturdays, a series of free performances on Hastings seafront, and the St Leonards Festival, a two day celebration of culture and community.   LeftCoast programme arts and creative activity across Blackpool and Wyre. It produces amazing art – from jaw-dropping spectacles to intimate experiences to inspire and support those who live, work and study there. Hull’s Freedom Festival is the flagship arts event within the city’s growing cultural landscape (Hull is UK City of Culture 2017). Now in its ninth year, Freedom Festival celebrates – through artistic and cultural expression – Hull’s independent spirit and historic contribution to the cause of freedom as the birthplace of slave trade abolitionist William Wilberforce. Mouth of the Tyne Festival is a four day cultural celebration showcasing the award winning coastline. It features live music, free street entertainment, activities for under 5’s and their parents and a colourful pageant. Theatre Orchard is an arts development charity that both produces and presents inspiring performance and creative opportunities in a diverse range of places and spaces in North Somerset …  and beyond. SO Festival is an exciting and innovative outdoor arts festival that promotes and presents the best festival arts and entertainment across East Lincolnshire, ending with an explosive finale weekend in Skegness.   Dreamland, Margate is a unique heritage amusement park at the heart of the Thanet tourism economy. It will continue to play a significant role in the regeneration of Margate. Newly formed East Suffolk Council, a merger of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils, will be raising the economic and cultural profile of Lowestoft and Felixstowe by bringing Coasters supported world-class street theatre and circus to these towns. With the wealth of collective knowledge in coastal arts programming, the Coasters consortium looks forward to supporting East Suffolk’s stride into cultural regeneration. What the Coasters touring network has to offer: A total financial contribution of £7500 across 6 new partner locations will be 50% matched through the Arts Council England’s strategic touring programme grant Your festival, event or venue will have the opportunity to host subsidised touring street arts and circus shows from a select menu of high quality, international and UK associate companies Access to Coasters central marketing and PR services Access to Coasters central audience evaluation (we are working with the Audience Agency) Mentoring and support from Coasters Project staff team Sharing of knowledge and expertise across the network partners The current Coasters programme runs until 2018 and is looking to bring on board 6 new partners over the next 2 years.  There is the potential for new partners to become full members of the Coasters touring network 2019 and beyond. Contact: Veronica Stephens, Coasters Project Manager veronica@seachangearts.org.uk www.coastersnetwork.org.uk