A COLOURFUL, independent arts project, which aims to showcase budding talent in Bournemouth, looks set to transform the town into a creative hub this spring.

Organisers of BEAF (Bournemouth’s Emerging Arts Festival) say there will be exhibitions, theatre productions, concerts, comedy, cabaret and film screenings, street festivals and the launch of the first ever art gallery in a police box.

Festival director, Carol Maund said,:“The festival goes to show what great talent we have here in Bournemouth, and how important it is to nurture and support it, which is exactly what BEAF set out to do.

“BEAF has offered a platform to showcase Bournemouth’s artistic talent, and this year we are so pleased to be able to offer commissions to give our creatives the opportunity to present work specially made for the festival!”

Venues across the town, from cafes and bars, galleries and theatres, to the cliff lifts and a series of transformed shipping containers will be transformed during the ten-day festival.

The aim is to challenge people’s views of creativity and culture, featuring the best of Bournemouth’s homegrown artistic talent from musicians, poets, street performers, comedians and sculptors.

Highlights include a new theatre production, The Vodka Hunters, by award-winning author and director Nell Leyshon; the sublime and ridiculous comedy/cabaret act, Slightly Fat Features and a sensory installation of plants and spices within two shipping containers on Boscombe beach.

BEAF runs from April 28 to May 7. See b-e-a-f.co.uk or facebook.com/bournemouthfringe