Some destinations evoke certain familiar images, some don’t. Blackpool is the former – the Tower, rock, roller coasters, fish and chips, donkeys, piers and variety showcases, a lost heyday of the British seaside, now a bit tired and somewhat raucous. It doesn’t matter if it’s out of date, the perception remains. Blackpool has always been a surprisingly dynamic and innovative cultural destination as well as a seaside resort, so the opportunity was to inject the town’s tourism image with contemporary culture, retaining the positive qualities of the historic offer – fun, welcome, confidence, showmanship.
This was a repositioning challenge, and the key players across the town came together to look at branding, programming, marketing, all collaboratively – the only way that change can be affected over time through a credible and compelling destination offer.
We championed using the town as a stage for contemporary culture and signature events: venues, but also parks, promenade, the Pleasure Beach, the iconic buildings and vistas. By building confidence in celebrating a cultural offer, Blackpool has started to be bolder, shifting how it is viewed and changing an out-of-date image
The work of LeftCoast, the designated Arts Council England Creative People and Places project for Blackpool, is testament to that shift. Blackpool continues to develop its contemporary voice through its festivals, and investment in arts and cultural programming.
Culture Blackpool
LeftCoast’s artist-led initiative turning a Bed & Breakfast Guest House into a boutique hotel and venue with each room designed by a different artist opened in 2020.
The town’s first museum celebrating its extraordinary showbusiness heritage is currently under construction on the promenade and we've been commissioned to write the Marketing Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Foregrounding the town's cultural offer within Visit Blackpool's marketing https://www.visitblackpool.com/culture-blackpool/
Working with Liverpool's Everyman and Playhouse Theatres to create a new ambitious business plan
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Looking at ways to grow Manchester's classical music audience
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Maximising Buxton's contemporary and heritage assets to grow its visitor economy
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A road map for a sustainable visitor economy
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Five cities come together to develop international cultural tourism markets.
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