King's Lynn to host new winter arts programme

Plans for a new art project in Lynn, which organisers say will put the town at the heart of new developments, have been announced.

Council chiefs, business leaders and arts groups have joined forces for the new Collusion display, which is due to run for six weeks from mid-November.

The town is one of six hubs across the region taking part in the scheme, led by the Cambridge-based arts group.

Nearly £100,000 is being spent on the project, of which around half will be drawn from an Arts Council grant. Other contributors include West Norfolk Council, Norfolk County Council, Lynn's BID committee Discover King's Lynn and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority.

The announcement follows an earlier display by Collusion in Lynn last autumn. Officials say the new project will combine live performance, projection and augmented reality.

Collusion director Rachel Drury said: “King’s Lynn will be leading the way nationally as we will bring together local and national talent across a wide number of disciplines to create and deliver a ground-breaking public art project.”

West Norfolk Council deputy leader Elizabeth Nockolds said: "Securing this funding is excellent news and wouldn't be possible without the support of our partners.

"Collusion's experience here will be invaluable as they certainly created a buzz in the town with their showcase project last year.

"Having a festival to brighten up the dark winter nights will be great for the area and hopefully attract people from further afield into the town for the evening."

BID chairman Darren Taylor added: "We are delighted to be involved with such an exciting and innovative project.

"The BID is committed to doing all it can to make visiting the town centre a true experience and I am certain this festival will be very well received.

"It’s great that by working with our partners that we can bring something so exciting to King’s Lynn."