From crazy table tennis to pop up surprise performances in local cafés, there have been lots of events and activities taking place all over the Boston and South Holland area in the first month since the fantastic launch event in Holbeach on Sunday 5th May.
Over to Nick Jones, Transported Programme Director:
The first month of Transported has been a very busy and interesting one for the whole team. The launch couldn’t have been better. The weather helped tremendously, and the people of Holbeach, their enthusiasm for the art works and the project were a fantastic boost. Around four thousand people over the afternoon enjoyed the range of arts activity, from the massive inflatable light sculpture, to the more discreet sewing, knitting or photographic exhibition of Spalding and Holbeach shed owners.
And then it was about turning our attention to getting the smaller events, the artist led commissions, on the road, moving from village to village, market stalls and food factories. There were some challenges, like getting used to driving a three gear vintage ice cream van, but the message is very definitely “Transported will get there in the end!”
Transported is a fantastic opportunity and a big challenge, and part of the challenge is making people aware of what it is. The Arts Council have invested in the Transported approach because it achieves their aim of testing new ways of getting more people involved in the whole range of arts activity. They still have funding streams to support some of the fantastic venues and existing projects in the county, and Transported is in addition to these.
Transported was launched in Holbeach in order to signpost that Creative People and Places is about taking quality arts opportunity to new places. Since the launch, we have been rolling out events to the other communities across the two areas: Wrong Pong targeting young people, music pop up events and a Flash Dance performance in Boston high street, to name a few. And the programme keeps getting bigger and more exciting. We have just heard about a successful partnership bid for additional Arts Council funding for a fantastic festival event for Boston in October, bringing Samba rhythms and the carnival colour to Lincolnshire.
As more and more people see Transported events they are starting to understand what it’s about, what the opportunities are, and to have their say about where it goes next.
To keep informed about future events, keep an eye on https://transportedart.com/events/, follow us on Twitter at @TransportedArt, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/transportedart.
Thank you to everyone who has been getting involved with the project for your invaluable support!
