Blackpool streets given colourful makeover with new planters, benches and murals amid City of Culture bid

Blackpool’s streets have been given a colourful makeover with new planters, benches and murals created by the Coastal Colour Club.

The project has added colour and character to parts of the town, with the group’s work bringing a series of creative installations to public spaces. Blackpool Council said it was supporting the work and welcomed the impact of local creativity on the town.

The council said creativity, community spirit and pride in Blackpool were at the heart of its bid to become City of Culture 2029.

Sam Bell, Creative Director of Coastal Colour Club said: “The Coastal Colour Club project first came about as a conversation between me and [artist] Will and we wanted to think about creative ways to decorate the streets of Blackpool. We got into doing planters and benches that you see around town.

“Quite a lot of people actually come up and start talking to you about the process and about being artists themselves - there are so many artists that live here. If the place that you live looks brighter, it just instantly makes you feel better. And we started to run out of wall space at House of Wingz, so we said ‘let’s spread out wings and fly into the community outside!

“As a town, we’re known for entertainment, so why should our streets not be entertaining? Blackpool bidding for City of Culture could not have come at a more perfect time. There’s no place quite like it and what it would do for Blackpool would be so valuable, so back the bid!”

Will Panter, Artist at Coastal Colour Club added: “We wanted to brighten the place up, make art more accessible for everyone. We’ve had a lot of people tell us how great it is, how much it’s bringing colour to the town. A young girl came to us and asked if we could paint daffodils because it’s her mum’s favourite flower, so we said we’d do it on the Primark one for you!”

City of Culture bid

Blackpool is one of nine places across the UK competing for the prestigious title, alongside Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

If successful, Blackpool would receive £10m from the Government towards a year-long celebration of arts and culture, with the potential to attract further funding, sponsorship and investment.

The campaign is urging residents and visitors across the Fylde coast to support the bid at www.visitblackpool.com/blackpool-city-of-culture/. The final three shortlisted places are expected to be announced in autumn, with the winner selected in the new year.