Save Our Seas, Sidmouth’s first Winter Lights Festival will take place on 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th February from 5.30-8pm.
This new sustainable, low-carbon event provides a welcome opportunity to step outside, socialise and get inspired to act local and think global! The Winter Lights Festival will feature 14 installations, starting at Sidmouth Wallspace, and continuing along the Ham border into the Sensory Garden, Riverside Walkway and to the end of the Ham.
Curated by lighting artist, Zac Greening, the installations are the artists’ responses to the festival’s theme: Save Our Seas. Each artwork is inspired by the challenges faced by climate change and aims to encourage conversations and connections, and actions that can be taken both individually and collectively. The festival will also feature installations from Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and Sidmouth School of Art, including the Clamship, a kinetic sculpture made from recycled boats and a truck inspired by the bi-valve molluscs that filter, cleaning and supporting the marine ecosystem. As part of the project, Sidmouth School of Art has been working with students from Sidmouth College and Sidmouth Primary School to ensure the voices of young people are represented in the exhibition.
A creative sculpture made by Sidmouth Repair Café will also feature and will be located in the Sensory Garden. Sidmouth School of Art invited them to collaborate because it is initiatives like repair cafes that get us thinking about our habits of throwing things away and creating more sustainable ways to reuse and recycle our waste.
Sidmouth School of Art’s Louise Cole said: “We are really excited to be bringing a new event to the Sidmouth calendar out of the high season as part of our ethos to support Sidmouth to thrive 365. The focus is well and truly on the environment and community well being. We were inspired by the Scandinavian concept of stepping outside whatever the weather and connecting with nature and others, emerging from the depths of winter as spring approaches.”
The event is free and festival goers will be able to stop and chat, get a drink at the Fishermen’s Shed bar, hot drinks and cakes at Daisy Blue Delights and a warming bite to eat at Sea Sides and tacos, with fish and chips by Sidmouth Trawlers in the Fisherman’s Yard. As the festival coincides with half term, it is the perfect activity for children, friends and family.
The project is supported by Sidmouth School of Art and a range of funders, including Creative East Devon Fund, Sidmouth Town Council, Sidmouth Hotels, Potburys of Sidmouth, Voyage Travel Marketing and Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce.
