SOUTHEND is part of a huge project which stretches across some of England’s coastlines, which has the idea to use art to boost local economies and tourism through partnership.

The project - England’s Creative Coast: Waterfronts - will see seven outdoor art commissions each situated on and made in response to the Essex, Kent and East Sussex coastlines. The partnership will also launch the world’s first art GeoTour.

Led by Margate’s Turner Contemporary and Visit Kent, this pioneering partnership sees organisations Cement Fields in Gravesend; Creative Folkestone; the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea; Hastings Contemporary; Metal in Southend; Turner Contemporary and Towner Eastbourne coming together for the first time. 

The event is currently scheduled to launch in Margate with Turner Contemporary on April 16 and runs across other areas until November 8.

The Southend launch is scheduled for July.

However, organisers say with the current coronavirus crisis causing uncertainty and swathes of event postponements, it is possible the earlier event dates in the project will be rescheduled. Updates and announcements will be made and people are advised to keep an eye on the website at englandscreativecoast.org

Arts organisation Metal is heading up the Southend arm of the project, supporting London based artist Katrina Palmer - as commissioned by the England’s Creative Coast team - to work on the unveiling of the local commission titled Hello and Retreat.

Katrina works “with stories that are distributed across found sites, audio environments, printed matter and performance”. 

For Waterfronts, she will “explore and investigate the areas in and around Southend and look to reveal the way they are shaped by cultural, political, emotional and mechanical forces”. 

This work will also form part of Metal’ Estuary 2020 festival. 

At the moment, the details of the artwork is under wraps, but Metal’s senior project manager, Michaela Freeman, said: “Katrina has had a residency at Metal and while there has been going out in Southend and exploring the area, researching local history.
“While we cannot reveal what she is working on yet, we can say it is a brilliant piece of work which I believe will really capture the public’s imagination.”

Sarah Dance is the project director of England’s Creative Coast.  

Explaining her vision for the project, she said: “England’s Creative Coast is about connections — connecting people to places, artists with the coast, creative organisations with landscape and with each other, and visitors to the history of the people and places on the coast. Ultimately, it is about using the power of partnership to forge human connections: allowing people to explore a place, an artwork, and its community, together.” 

Victoria Pomery OBE, is director of Turner Contemporary. She says: “We’re delighted to be leading this innovative project across Kent, Essex and East Sussex. As we approach our tenth anniversary year in 2021, Turner Contemporary has demonstrated that art plays a vital role in driving social and economic regeneration. 
“This major cultural tourism project spans a large geographical area, connecting people and places through a series of ambitious public art commissions. Through collaborations with artists, galleries, arts organisations and tourism providers, England’s Creative Coast celebrates the cultural richness of the South East and the importance of creativity, which is vital for developing skills, tourism and the economy as a whole.”

Keep an eye on englandscreativecoast.org to see the England’s Creative Coast trail dates, as well as each art partner’s GeoTour.