Plymouth is embarking on a major four-year cultural programme designed to reconnect the people of the city with the ocean and bring the UK’s only national marine park to life.
More than £1.6 million has been awarded to Plymouth Culture, in partnership with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, for the ‘Sea for Yourself’ initiative which aims to deepen the public’s connection with the environment, spark curiosity and inspire collective stewardship of Plymouth’s unique marine heritage.
The funding includes £751,000 from Arts Council England and £860,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will enable the development and delivery of the programme of four creative digital commissions to produce interactive and shared immersive experiences showcasing Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Each year-long commission will focus on a theme – making visible the invisible, archive and heritage, immersive environments and outdoor installations – and feature an embedded community engagement programme, ensuring local residents are actively involved in shaping the projects.
The aim is to bring together the city’s cultural and natural assets to inspire meaningful change and create opportunities for interaction with the city’s superb marine environment. It will also benefit the creative and cultural sector in Plymouth, with opportunities for artists to develop the skills and expertise in creating art that connects with nature, solidifying Plymouth’s position as a hotspot for creative innovation.
‘Sea for Yourself’ is being led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, supported by Plymouth’s museum, art gallery and archive, The Box; social enterprise Real Ideas, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, said the initiative represents a step change for Plymouth: “It’s a bold collaboration that combines our incredible cultural assets with the natural beauty of the National Marine Park.
“By reconnecting residents with the ocean, we are creating a unique and symbiotic relationship between people and their environment while also laying the foundation for a cultural legacy that will benefit future generations – artists and residents alike.”
Councillor Tudor Evans, Plymouth City Council Leader said: “The ‘Sea for Yourself’ programme marks an exciting new chapter in how we harness the power of culture to bring our communities together.
“This place-based partnership includes a cutting-edge digital dimension, making the UK’s first National Marine Park and Plymouth’s cultural heritage accessible to everyone in the city. It’s another step in ensuring Plymouth takes a leading role in showing how culture can drive positive change, connect communities, and create opportunities for all.”
This project exemplifies Plymouth’s ambition to make Britain’s Ocean City a culturally significant destination and an enviable place to live, work and study as well as to visit and will create countless opportunities for artists and creatives to work alongside ecologists, environmentalists and technologists to encourage a deeper exploration of the relationship between nature and art.
Hannah Harris added: “So many artists are already working in collaboration with environmentalists to think deeply about our relationship with the land and the sea. This initiative enables us to take that further, offering new opportunities for creatives and making Plymouth the home of high-quality, world-leading arts and nature practice.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “As part of our ongoing investment in the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, we are delighted to support the ‘Sea For Yourself’ project that will enable more people to interact with, and explore, the city’s marine environment. Connecting local communities with their ocean heritage is integral to the success of the National Marine Park.”
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Area Director for the South West, said: “Our investment of £750,000 will help galvanise the city’s creative and scientific communities around a shared vision of marine citizenship, asking residents to think deeply about their relationship to the area’s most vital asset – the sea.”
Plymouth Culture has appointed Rob Bowman, with over 20 years’ experience leading large-scale public art projects and digital engagement programmes, as Senior Creative Producer for the programme.
