Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival to go ahead this September

The Arts by the Sea Festival will be taking place this September with free pre-booked outdoor events in Bournemouth and livestreamed performances and workshops

Mystic Myfanwy and the Psychic Sisters perforrming at last year's event Photo: Scott M Salt Photography (Image: Scott M Salt Photography)

Bournemouth’s annual arts and culture festival, Arts by the Sea (ABS), will go ahead in 2020 in a revised, COVID-friendly format. Usually attracting crowds of over 100,000, the festival will now take place with a reduced number of live physical events consisting of a handful of limited capacity, outdoor installations across Bournemouth Gardens and local beaches from Friday 25th September - Sunday 4th October. The festival, organised by BCP Council and From The Fields, have worked hard to deliver a festival programme that combine public safety measures and the best audience experience. With this in mind there will be a larger than usual programme of online activity where workshops and livestreams become part of the new festival format, delivering a much-needed dose of cultural activity.

Avanti performing Hydromania in front of the Town Hall at a previous Arts by the Sea event (Image: Archant)

2020 was set to be the most spectacular edition of the award-winning Arts by the Sea yet as it celebrated 10 years of bringing art and culture to the South Coast. Guests can expect a select number of walk-through exhibits and outdoor installations, each with timed entry slots to manage capacities and social distancing. Advance, free tickets will be required for these bookable via the Arts by the Sea website from 17 august. These limited capacity events will be augmented via digital broadcasts, meaning anyone not able to secure a ticket or unable to leave the safety of their home, can get involved and enjoy the events online.

Rising Sun installation by Will Simpson on Bournemouth PIer at a previous ABS (Image: Archant)

Virtual guests of Arts by the Sea can watch livestream music programmes featuring local bands, take part in creative workshops, and revisit street theatre performances from the archives of Arts by the Sea as it celebrates 10 years of bringing arts and culture to the south coast of England.

Umberella Proejct by Cirque Bijou at ABS 2017 (Image: Archant)

“With both a digital and outdoor programme, this year’s festival will give many people the chance to enjoy a fantastic range of cultural experiences, provide employment opportunities for local creatives, and help to kick start the local economy,” said Phil Gibby of Arts Council England, South West. “Arts organisations like Arts by the Sea, led by BCP Council, play a vital role in bringing communities together and helping to enrich our lives, which is why we are so pleased to invest in them through our National Portfolio funding programme.”

Shademakers UK Circus Folly Night Parade at a previous ABS festival (Image: Archant)

Full event details and information on how to obtain tickets will be announced on 17 August at artsbythesea.co.uk .Please note that all events will be subject to government guidance at the time. For latest news follow them on Facebook Instagram and Twitter

Silicon Shores by The Colour Project played acoss the Town Hall in 2018 (Image: Archant)