Arts by the Sea was launched by us in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength. It has been an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation since 2015.
Something to celebrate
The festival is an annual celebration of art, culture, people and place, through which we strive to enhance a sense of community and raise Bournemouth’s profile on a national scale as a leader in culture.
Our festival is an intriguing, exciting and unique carnivalesque celebration of art across many forms. Involving experiences, diverse music, art and dance, site-specific installations and large-scale spectaculars in beautiful locations are key to our programme of events.
Participation and diversity
We aim to increase opportunities for people to participate in the arts, incorporating experiences that offer depth, insight and excitement for our audience. We value work that can make a strong impact on our audience and the town, supporting artistic work that is relevant, connects with and is meaningful to our audience.
Inclusivity, accessibility and diversity are at the heart of Arts by the Sea, and we value talent and high-quality work supporting emerging and established artists.
Environmental impact
As a festival that takes place in a coastal location of outstanding natural beauty, we recognise in the importance of safeguarding our natural environment and are working hard to reduce our impact on the environment.
Programming is intended to raise awareness of global environmental issues and support green projects and partners, while helping artists, residents, businesses and visitors become more environmentally friendly too.
For the latest updates and programming, check out the Arts by the Sea Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.