What does 700 litres of water based paint, two international artists, 500 brushes, 50 paint rollers, 30 local people, 10 days and two cement mixers make?
Visitors to this year’s SO Festival will get the chance to find out when world-renowned artist, Ra Kajol, will create the UK premiere of his outdoor colourscape painting, Traffic Art, on to the streets of Skegness this summer.
The SO Festival organisers have commissioned the transformation of the Tower Esplanade pavements, starting at the Clock Tower and running down to the RNLI Lifeboat Station. The paintings will feature local history, creative ideas from local people, as well as popular Skegness images and famous icons.
Ra Kajol, a Bangladeshi international artist who lives and works in Denmark will be joined by his artist assistant Uttam Karmaker to create Traffic Art. Over the last 10 years they have created unique visual artworks at major international arts festivals and events. Kajol is currently painting a new work in Mexico before coming to the SO Festival 2010 in Skegness to start work.
The Traffic Art installation will begin on 12th July and will be painted over a period of 10 days leading up to the launch of the festival on 22nd July. Kajol and his assistant will also invite local residents and holidaymakers visiting the seaside town to participate in the creation of this huge 4,000 square metre street artwork.
Incorporating this year’s SO Festival Colour and Light theme, the finished artwork will be the opening event for the festival on Thursday 22nd July and will remain open 24 hours a day for the duration of the festival and will be free to view and walk over.
The idea to incorporate this into the SO Festival was developed by East Lindsey District Council following the SEAS Festival in 2009, when a relationship with Helsingborg Festival in Sweden was formed. Kajol had previously created similar Traffic Art works in Helsingborg and this summer he will be painting a new creation by painting a 500m stretch of roadway through the Swedish city for the Festival.
Organised by East Lindsey District Council, with £250,000 support from Arts Council England, SO Festival 2010 promises to build on the successes of last year’s event by delivering four days of exhilarating events.
Magnetic Events has been appointed by East Lindsey District Council to deliver SO Festival 2010. Festival Director, Robin Morley, said: “We’re very excited to have Ra Kajol bring Traffic Art to the SO
Festival this year, which will be a UK first for his wonderful public artwork. We will see over the 10 days a reinvention of Skegness’ urban streets into a vibrant and colourful environment that will be viewed by many thousands of people. Local people and businesses are already very excited about Traffic Art and are keen to come and get involved with the painting.”
People interested in getting involved to help in the painting of Traffic Art, which will take place every day on Tower Esplanade from Monday 12th July to Thursday 22nd July, should visit the website – www.sofestival.org – or email emmalouise.hamilton@e-lindsey.gov.uk or telephone Emma-Louise Hamilton on 01507 329 443.
We welcome people of all ages to take part in the Traffic Art painting project and anyone under the age of 16 who wishes to take part must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or older. Come and join in creating this unique street painting and bring your camera phone to capture all the action.
The SO Festival 2010 programme is subject to the final approval of the Festival’s event management plan by the East Lindsey Safety Advisory Group who advises on all public events in the East Lindsey District.
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of SO Festival 2010, East Lindsey District Council and Arts Council England by Lava. For further information contact Matt, Lindsey, Becky or Steph at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk, lindsey@lavapr.co.uk, becky@lavapr.co.uk, steph@lavapr.co.uk
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Note to editors:
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives.
As the national development agency for the arts, Arts Council England supports a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts.
Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.
Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
www.artscouncil.org.uk
About Magnetic Events
Magnetic Events produce memorable events and arts productions, created with artists, cultural organisations, communities and individuals, local authorities and festivals. Robin Morley and his team have previously worked on major events with Arts Council England, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Brighton Festival.
www.magneticevents.org
