Programmes
Sea for Yourself
Plymouth’s heritage and connection to the ocean is at the heart of an inspiring new cultural and artistic programme through which we are inviting Plymouth residents to reconnect with the sea.
Creating opportunities for artists and audiences, sparking curiosity, and celebrating Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, Sea for Yourself is a once-in-a-generation initiative that will blend creativity, technology and community engagement to create meaningful experiences that highlight our connection to the natural world.
Over the next four years, we will be offering four major art commissioning opportunities for ambitious projects to be presented across the city.
We will support artists to explore a range of themes and approaches: making visible the underwater world, exploring our city’s rich archive and marine heritage, co-creating projects with communities and developing new digital and immersive nature-based experiences across Plymouth.
Working with our partners The Box, Real Ideas, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth, Sea for Yourself will support digital experimentation, community co-creation, and collaboration with ecologists, environmentalists and technologists.
We will link this work to national and international partnerships that build the city’s reputation for innovation at the intersection of cultural and environmental engagement.
Running alongside the commissions will be several ongoing strands of activity, including:
Creative residencies focused on community engagement and uncovering hidden stories
A data-insights initiative that will harness the power of research and analysis to guide decision-making and connect more people with cultural experiences
A development programme that will nurture local creativity and talent, supporting people and projects at the intersection of digital innovation, environmental awareness, and the blue/green economy.
Sea for Yourself will not just be a celebration of our relationship with the sea but a transformational creative programme. It will generate incredible opportunities for artistic collaboration, connecting communities with place, fostering behavioural change and unlocking new ways to see, experience and care for our planet.
This programme is being led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Sea for Yourself is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England Place Partnership Fund.
