Funding boost brings imaginative Boat Project to the Bay

A beautifully crafted sailing boat, made from people's wooden memorabilia will be visiting Torbay from the South East following a successful bid by Torbay Council to Arts Council England.

The Lone Twin Boat Project is a living archive of people's stories and lives, a 30ft vessel made from donated wooden items, and one of the major outcomes of last year's Cultural Olympiad. From February to July 2011 the public, living in the South East, donated their wood to the project from pencil, piano and pine to the exotic zebrawood every piece had a story behind it. Donations arrived in their thousands, from the highly personal to pieces of national importance. All of these donations have now been used to build a state-of-the-art seafaring yacht named Collective Spirit.

Arts Council England has awarded Torbay Council £33,000 to sail Collective Spirit into Brixham for early August and then Torquay and Paignton as part of its 'Art on the English Riviera' project. There will be a range of free events arranged in each town to coincide with the boat's arrival followed by a week's sailing school for groups within the community. The boat will then head to the Spanish Barn, Torre Abbey, to form the centrepiece of a maritime exhibition being held in the barn from 8 September until 19 October.

The Mayor of Torbay Gordon Oliver, said: "This is great news and another coup for Torbay which in recent years has helped to showcase some amazing artwork and cultural events. So whether you are 9 or 90 I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit the Boat Project and find out about the inspirational stories that have helped to create it."

Cllr Dave Butt, Executive Lead for Culture and Arts and Regional Board Member for Arts Council England South West, said: "In the last few years Torbay has really gained a national reputation for hosting amazing exhibitions by both local and internationally renowned artists and this is right up there with the best. We really are developing into the cultural centre of the South-West.

"As part of Art on the English Riviera we have organised a maritime themed exhibition in the Spanish Barn and so this is a great opportunity for us to bring the Collective Spirit to the Bay. Whether you are a budding artist or just want to be inspired I would urge everyone to come along and see the project for themselves and hear the amazing stories that it has to tell.

Artists from across the South-west are still being encouraged to take part in the maritime exhibition, being held in the Spanish Barn.

Artists are being encouraged to submit any form of work on a maritime theme including sculptures, installations, 2d, craftwork or paintings to include within the exhibition.

Work can be for sale and will attract a commission of 30 percent, of which five percent will go to the Trust. Five pounds of each submission fee will also go to the Trust.

For an application form click the link...

For more information visit http://www.creativetorbay.com/annagilroy/call-artists-exhibition-opportunity/