New festival coming to Bridlington in September : 'Land Sand Stone' will take over the beaches and Sewerby Hall and Gardens

The summer programme of Active Coast may be drawing to a close, but one of the year’s biggest events is about to come to Bridlington – the Land Sand Stone Art Festival from Friday,13 to Sunday, 15 September, organised by Active Coast in association with Responsible Fishing UK.

Artists from all over the UK – and beyond – will gather together in a unique celebration of the creative possibilities of nature and the stunning East Yorkshire coastline.

There will be workshops and demonstrations by artists including Marcelo van Els from The Netherlands; Tim Pugh from North Wales; Lancashire’s Julia Brooklyn (Land Art for Kids); Brioney McClean from Pembrokeshire; Ken Potts from Dorset; Mim Robson from Yorkshire;  James Craig Page, from East Lothian (European Stone Stacking Championships); Ana Castilho, from Portugal; Julia Brooklyn and Richard Shilling, both from Lancashire; and Yorkshire’s own James Brunt.

Jon Foreman from Pembrokeshire will bring his creations to the beaches and woodlands around Sewerby, and Mark and Rebecca Ford of West Sussex will bring willow structures and mesmerising sculpture to Sewerby Hall and Gardens.

The Festival will include an attempt on the UK’s longest Sand Drawing on Friday, 13 September on one mile of Bridlington’s South and South Cliff beaches, involving local schoolchildren and the public. The Friday will also feature an Open Beach Stone Art session on Bridlington North Beach.

Saturday, 14 September will be at Sewerby Hall and Gardens where visitors will be able to join the artists in the gardens and explore the natural landscape with a natural art trail, large creative collaborations with the artists, and stone balancing demonstrations. There will be 25% off admission to Sewerby Hall and Gardens on the Friday and Saturday when booked online in advance at www.sewerbyhall.co.uk

The final day of the Festival, Sunday, 15 September, will include the Bridlington Stone Stacking Championship on North Beach, with competitions for adults and children. Registration in advance is required. There will also be Stone Art Workshops and Demonstrations on North Beach, and a Sand Drawing Workshop and Open Beach Doodle on the South Beach.

James Brunt, of Responsible Fishing, said : “'Land Sand Stone' brings together some of the best Land Artists from the across the UK and Europe, for a unique Festival celebrating the Bridlington Coastline.  For three days the artists will be creating beautiful work, leading demonstrations and workshops and temporarily transforming the landscape as you know it.  

“Organisers from Responsible Fishing UK have been overwhelmed by the response to the festival form the land art community and are thrilled to be welcoming many artists to Bridlington from as far afield as Portugal and The Netherlands.”

Councillor Shaun Horton, portfolio holder for tourism, culture and leisure, added : “I am delighted that Active Coast has been able to work together with Responsible Fishing UK for what promises to be an amazing weekend around Bridlington and Sewerby Hall and Gardens. This festival is certainly unique and the first of its kind in the UK. We are hopeful that this will be the first of many to come and establish Bridlington as the home of land, sand and stone art.”

Full details of Land Sand Stone are at www.ActiveCoast.org and on social media at https://www.facebook.com/events/887361181663750/