A CONCERTED effort to celebrate Boscombe’s creative atmosphere with pop-up galleries, interactive art installations and eye-catching murals has been deemed a huge success.

The Great Exhibition of Boscombe, which ran from October 4 to 11, has been credited with increasing footfall in the Sovereign Centre and challenging people’s perceptions of the area.

The week, which was supported by Bournemouth Coastal BID, featured pop-up shops, galleries and studios in the Sovereign Centre, large-scale murals at key locations, live art and street entertainment.

Artist Christina Frasi Zahid, who is normally based in Roumelia Lane, moved to a vacant shop unit in the Sovereign Centre for the Great Exhibition.

She said: “It’s just been incredible.

“They say the footfall has increased by 10 per cent since the exhibition has been on and we’ve had every type of person imaginable in to see what we’re about.

“It can only benefit Boscombe. There’s so much negativity in Boscombe but this is amazing.”

Project manager Clare Belmont said Boscombe was the perfect location for edgy street art and eye-catching murals, like The Awakening in Roumelia Lane, and she hoped they would become a real feature of the area.

“The arts and creative industry in Bournemouth are emerging fast from the Boscombe creative community,” she said.

“Arts engagement and festivals all over the world create a stamp of identity for towns and cities and the support we have from local businesses, independents and all interested in the arts and culture scene is incredible.”

Cllr Chris Wakefield, who represents Boscombe West, said: “We have seen an explosion of colour and creativity in Boscombe during the Great Exhibition.

“It has shows us in a different light.”