Some 4000 people poured into Carter’s Park in Holbeach on Sunday 5 May to enjoy the sun-soaked launch of Transported.

Amongst the highlights was internationally acclaimed company Architects of Air’s luminarium ‘Miracoco’ – an extraordinarily huge and colourful walk-in inflatable sculpture – which was visited by over 1,500 people in just three hours. The Launch also featured The Dream Engine’s gravity defying acrobatic Conedancers, street entertainers, interactive artworks, have-a-go workshops, storytelling, puppet shows and live music.

Transported is an Arts Council England ‘Creative People and Places’ project which aims to get more people in Boston and South Holland enjoying and participating in arts activities wherever they live, meet or work. Initial funding is for the next 2½ years and will now see the start of a period of community consultation, followed in September 2013 by the delivery of a specially devised arts programme.

Setting the tone for the project, the launch of Transported included top international artists, national companies and home-grown talent. Over the next three months, 24 specially commissioned artists and companies will bring great art to the streets, villages and communities of Boston and South Holland to inspire new ideas. The iconic ‘arts van’ – a converted ice cream van – will also bring creative treats to whet the appetite in places where people gather together including youth clubs, market squares, factory canteens and village halls.

Nick Jones of artsNK, the lead organisation on Transported said: “Our vision is to ‘inspire creative journeys’, so over the next few years there will be amazing arts experiences and artists coming to communities across Boston and South Holland. We will also take people and artists to where the best art is being presented around the UK and Europe, bringing that ambition back to fuel what Transported does in future. People will be asked their opinion about what events and activities they would like to see, learn or do in their local area, and what new arts projects could improve the places where they live. It’s a very exciting time.”

Transported is managed by a consortium comprising artsNK, Lincs Artist Forum and Lincolnshire CVS (Community & Voluntary Service), and is funded by Arts Council England through the National Lottery as part of the national ‘Creative People and Places’ initiative.

Image: Jane Harrison.