Arts events scheduled for 2015 and 2016

The popular Coastival arts festivals will be held in Scarborough in 2015 and 2016, it was announced today.

In keeping with tradition, a mini, ‘one-day’ Coastival will be held next year before the full three-day event returns in 2016.

Excited organisers confirmed that the events would go ahead, after they received funding from the Arts Council towards the 2016 festival.

Coastival’s organisers, Scarborough-based arts development agency Create, say the news is a boost for Scarborough.

Director Wendy Holroyd said: “Earlier this year Create lost some funding from the Arts Council, which was a setback. But now we have secured funding from another pot of Arts Council money, which will mean that we can begin planning 2016 Coastival.

“We have been very encouraged by the outpouring of support for Coastival since news of the funding cut broke and it has been heartening to see just how much it means to its supporters.

“We are delighted to be able to say that it will go ahead next year and the year after and we look forward to presenting something very exciting and very different, both years.

“Each year Coastival draws in thousands of extra out-of-season visitors to Scarborough, contributing a significant financial boost worth hundreds of thousands of pounds at a traditionally quiet time of year and I think it is great news that it is going to continue.”

Coastival 2015 will be spread across 13^th and 14^th February, will be called “Back in Time with Coastival” and will have a nostalgic theme. It will feature music, theatre, visual arts and activities for children.

Included will be an exhibition and music event to celebrate Scarborough’s impressive rock and roll music history.

Plans for Coastival have received a boost thanks to a new, closer tie-up with Scarborough Spa and its management company, Sheffield International Venues. Create and the Spa will be working closely on the programme and venues for the 2015 festival.

Spa Manager Jo Ager said: “We are really pleased to be working with Create on Coastival 2015. Coastival has become a very popular fixture in the Scarborough arts scene and we look forward to building on the existing relationship we have with Create for the future success of this wonderful event.”

Create has got funding via the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts, to secure a full, three-day Coastival for 2016.

Further details on both festivals will be announced nearer the time.

• In February this year, thousands flocked to the three-day Coastival 2014 event, which saw big crowds at more than 100 different events.

Biggest crowds gathered for Orpheus the Mariner, an epic two-part seafront street performance, featuring giant puppets.

Other highlights included a performance by the Brand New Heavies, supported by Nubiyan Twist, two exciting jazz days, featuring Kate Peters and the Heavy Horns and Yorkshire jazz favourite Clare Teal and the Community Band, two full days of Acoustic Lounge sessions and the  Musicport “Lock in Dance Show” featuring the Demon Barbers.