Bournemouth
The following events are part of Bournemouth Borough Council’s Arts Development programme which aims to develop high quality outdoor performances in Bournemouth town centre sites, in partnership with local communities and other organisations.

Bournemouth town centre street events in 2007
September:  Over 20,000 people attended the ‘Fire Gardens’ event, by French company, Carabosse, in which the Lower Gardens were transformed by fire sculptures over a period of three evenings. 

This event was programmed by Bournemouth Borough Council Arts Development, as part of the Dorsetwide Inside Out Festival www.insideoutdorset.co.uk.  What people said about the event. (45kb - PDF will open in a new window)

Bournemouth residents took part through two community projects:

• Artist Heidi Steller worked with over 100 people to create a sculptural illuminated pathway on the theme of peoples’ enjoyment of Bournemouth, and Empress Eugenie’s visit to the town.
• Children from St Luke’s CE Primary, St Katharine’s CE Primary and Stourfield Junior schools worked over several months with artists Polly Beestone, Jeff Pigott, Lee Hart and Greta Hennessy to explore the tradition of candle lighting in Bournemouth, and the story of Empress Eugenie’s visit to the town, and to create a performance, ‘The Illuminating Tale of Empress Eugenie’, performed alongside the ‘Fire Gardens’ event.  A ‘History of Illuminations in Bournemouth’ is available, written by Jan Marsh, Heritage Librarian, Bournemouth Library. This aspect of the project was funded by Cultural Hub.

April: London based celebratory arts company, Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) performed:

• Arena; the Perfect Circle in Meyrick Park to over 2000 people.  This was funded by Arts Council England through Grants for the Arts, Bournemouth Borough Council Libraries and Arts, Bournemouth University , Stand Life Healthcare, Wave, Soundstorm, and Abbey Life.  What people said about the event. (37kb - PDF will open in a new window)

Over 150 young people and adults took part through community workshops led by artists.

Previous Street Arts
2005:  Emergency Exit Arts performed ‘Runga Rung’ in the town centre, to 5,000 people, with involvement from local groups and artists.  Funded by ACE and Bournemouth Borough Council.

1998:  Glorious! In Boscombe Gardens
Hundreds of children, families and groups took part in a lantern procession and event in the gardens at dusk on Good Friday, led by Same Sky, Brighton–based group of artists/performers. 

This event was linked to ‘Seducer’ – a light projection on Boscombe Pier, by muf, inspired partly from a fire screen in Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, housing a collection of butterflies and moths.