Southend Alternative City of Culture 2017

Southend Alternative City of Culture 2017

 MP DAVID Amess will launch Southend as the “Alternative City of Culture” in a glittering showcase event next month.

The Southend West MP has pledged to unveil a calendar of events to rival the as-yet-unannounced winner of the official City of Culture 2017 at the Genting Club, Westcliff, on Sunday, December 1.

The event, at the casino in Western Esplanade, will feature music, dance and other performances to show of the diverse culture of Southend.

It is pitched as a taster for the calendar of events Mr Amess has planned to take place from 2014 all the way up until 2017, when Southend will witness “some of the most spectacular displays of dance, drama, music, song, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit the town has ever seen”.

Mr Amess said: “It is a wonderful opportunity for Southend to become the Alternative City of Culture in 2017 and to really show off the brilliant diversity, talent, and expertise that Southend is home to.

“It’s a chance for all residents of Southend to come together and celebrate what the town has on offer.”

In June, Southend missed out on the shortlist for the competition, which is held every four years.

Mr Amess, who promoted Southend’s bid for the official accolade in Parliament, is yet to confirm any events, but called on voluntary organisations to support his call.

He said having an alternative city of culture in the south would provide regional balance because only Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay are still in the running for the title.

The council, which is expected to run for the title again in 2021, has backed Mr Amess’s alternative campaign.

Hosting the Turner Prize, opening the new museum and being shortlisted for the UK City of Culture are among the ambitious targets the council has set itself for the next decade.

Southend Council hopes to hit at least five of nine targets, which also include hosting a major cultural conference, increasing visitor numbers and holding a twoweek cultural festival.

Derek Jarvis, Southend councillor responsible for culture, said: “Many of our members admire and support David’s enthusiastic vision for Southend’s cultural future, especially as his suggestion dovetails well with the council’s stated strategy for achieving this.”

On the 8 / 9 June 2013 Southend-On-Sea held a Culture Festival on its very own world famous iconic pier. The Festival will demonstrate the true local talent within Music, Arts, Dance and Fashion, All of which define the term for Culture. The local schools, businesses, etc... are all getting involved to support the City of Culture Bid and make Southend-On-Sea the place to be in 2017.



The festival will include:



Live Music Performances by Goldmaster Allstars, Andy Sankey, Mike Summers and special guests!



Live Dance Performances by Methods of Movement, Wiggles Dance Club and Special Guests!



The 'Worlds Longest' Catwalk will be taking place at 1pm on Sunday 9th June including Designers such as Joey Bevan and Make Up by Charles H Fox!



Various arts and crafts stalls for all to browse, as well as the Venture Cup Powerboat race saturday 10.30am and try pier fishing Sunday 12 - 5pm!



10am - 5pm Both Days....



BE PART OF IT AND SUPPORT THEIR BID!!

SOUTHEND CULTURE FESTIVAL




Located prominently at the mouth of the Thames Estuary. The ancient Thames, with all its great history and debate about its future is a great subject for artists and cultural practitioners to explore. Our theme is locally relevant to the many communities that sit along the Estuary, as well as being of national interest given the role it has played in the development of the Nation. For 2017 we will explore the Thames Estuary – culturally,
environmentally and economically:

Culturally – The ancient and modern story of settlement, conquest, defence, and development. The story of the Great British seaside obsession and the future of tourism, changing expectations and the impact of the Estuary on the towns that sit along it. The Pier and the tide. The history and future of the British seaside experience. The music of the estuary.

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Environmentally – The Estuary as a valuable ecological resource for wildlife and as a source of food for human settlers up to the modern day. The story of climate change, its impact on our landscapes, flooding, and the ever increasing demand for water. The Estuary is an internationally important nature reserve with many Sites of Special Scientific Interest along it. The story of pollution from industry and how the Estuary has recovered and is now ecologically vibrant once more. The future of energy – wind and water.

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Economically – The Estuary for shipping; once one of the busiest water highways in the world and with recent dredging work and the development of London Gateway – becoming so again. The story of an insatiable desire for goods from abroad to drive the consumer culture. Fishing and the world famous cockles.