After over 3 years of being closed for extensive redevelopment, The Atkinson, Sefton’s multi-million pound cultural centre launches its exhibition programme this September with – Love Stories: Romance, Obsession & Heartbreak. And people from Sefton can be part of our very first exhibition.
Love Stories is about love in its many forms and presents stunning works from The Atkinson’s own collections alongside dramatic and provocative works by leading contemporary artists.
Working in partnership with The Southport Visiter to celebrate the launch of the first exhibition The Atkinson is looking to find the very best stories about true Love in Sefton, to create a series of photographic portraits of Sefton people
Have you lost or found Love in Sefton? Where are the special places across the borough that love has blossomed? Where did you fall in or out of Love in Sefton? Where did you first see each other, go on a first date, have that special first kiss, propose or even break up? The chosen stories will come together as a series of portrait photographs of people and places that say something unique about Love in Sefton, and these portraits will form part of the Love Stories exhibition.
Emma Anderson, The Atkinson’s Director said: “This is a fantastic chance for people to be part of something very special for Sefton. There are so many love stories, whether good or bad, happy or sad, that we are waiting to hear. It doesn’t matter whether you have just got together or been together for many years, we want to hear all about it. For example, Tracey Baybutt, The Atkinson’s Programmes Officer, met her partner while working at The Southport Arts Centre. Now after 20 years of knowing each other they are about to become husband and wife!
Up to 12 stories will be chosen and award-winning photographer and blogger Len Grant will come and meet you to take your photograph in the location you have described. These photographs and your stories will then be included in our exhibition and on our website, from September 2013 to April 2014.
Len Grant is a renowned photographer and writer who specialises in both social issues and urban renewal. His latest blog, Life Without Papers, was shortlisted for the Amnesty International Media Award 2013 and he has produced over 20 books documenting regeneration projects in Manchester and Salford.
Len said: “I am looking forward to photographing the residents of Sefton in lots of different places that are romantically significant to them. It could be the local chippy or the end of a pier… I’m sure there are going to be some amazing stories!”
To be in with a chance to be photographed specially for The Atkinson’s Love Stories exhibition you must send us your stories, whether romantic or tinged with heartbreak, by August 8 and you must be available to be photographed on either 16, 17, 18 or 19 August 2013.
Stories can be emailed to lovestories@theatkinson.co.uk, posted to Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DL or delivered by hand to The Atkinson or Southport Visiter offices in Tulketh Street – please mark envelopes Love in Sefton. With your stories you must include your full contact details with a daytime telephone number.
About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Sefton Council’s flagship arts and cultural venue. A key transformational project to enhancing Southport’s offer of ‘England’s Classic Resort’, the £17 million development involves the integration of four Arts & Cultural managed venues, Southport Arts Centre the Atkinson Art Gallery, Botanic Gardens Museum and the Southport Library, into one regional cultural centre.
Set in a grade II listed building in the centre of Lord Street, The Atkinson will act as a focal point for the town centre and will add to the food and beverage offer and the Lord Street retail offer to make a complete cultural visitor experience for the town.
Sefton Council, North West Development Agency and Sea Change funded the Atkinson’s redevelopment project and Sefton Council continue to manage and fund the venue for its residents and visitors. A funding application has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the fit out of the new museum areas to feature within the Centre from June 2014.
The Atkinson delivers high quality arts and cultural entertainment from dance and drama to fine art and music, whilst supporting community art groups with their development and performances.
Love Stories: Romance, Obsession & Heartbreak.
Love Stories explores the universal experience of love and loss in five stages: flirtation and courtship; the choice; marriage; obsession and betrayal and contented love. A broad spectrum of art is used to chart this journey, from traditional oil paintings to contemporary installations and moving image.
The Galleries refurbishment has created beautifully extensive, well-proportioned exhibition spaces in which to present the collections, including John Collier’s epic ‘Lilith’ and ‘Tannhäuser in the Venusberg’, William Open’s seductive ‘The Eastern Gown’ and William Roberts’ flirtatious setting, ‘The Tea Room’. Plus ceramic Antony and Cleopatra, Cupid and Psyche and new acquisitions which include a set of digital artworks by Tracey Emin based on her neon Valentine cards.
The exhibition runs from Saturday 7 September until April 2014.