Big Ideas by the Sea has a new development this year – we have been awarded an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant for a programme of public engagement through the arts (to be called BigReach 24) to support the festival and particularly to reach out to schools and community groups –
many of whom might face barriers to taking part in enjoyable cultural things without a bit of encouragement.
There is a writer (Charlotte Oliver), a visual artist (Petra Ingham), a glass artist (Rachel Welford) and an improvised music specialist (Captain Anthony Springall) working with different groups, plus a night showcasing local community choirs, led by Gillian Edwards and Mark Gordon. Also, Rowena Sommerville, BigReach 24 programme manager, is making contact with cultural and festival organisations in some of the world’s other Scarborough's – in America, Australia, Canada, South Africa and several Caribbean islands – to see if we can get to know some global Scarborough-
based colleagues (and thanks to BIBTS videographer Matt Cooper for helping with this).
There are some activities that are open to the public to join in with, so please check the timetable on this website to find out when and where those are happening. Big thanks to Arts Council England and to all players of the National Lottery for helping us make this happen!
