BOURNEMOUTH’S largest independent arts festival returns this spring to showcase its home-grown creative community.

Running for the third time since 2015, BEAF (Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe) presents exhibitions, theatre productions, concerts, comedy, cabaret, dance and film screenings outdoors, in galleries, cafés, bars and other unexpected locations across town, with a focus on Boscombe.

BEAF director Carol Maund said: “Bournemouth offers a broad cultural programme in the town centre, but we want to turn the spotlight onto our local communities and show how many talented and internationally recognised artists live and work right here, and how beneficial arts and culture are.”

The opening weekend on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, will see exhibitions in various locations.

Performances and workshops will take place at the Bournemouth Natural Science Society, and the BEAF Film Festival will be hosted at the Shelley Theatre, featuring a selection of short films and the famous 1929 silent film, Man with a Movie Camera, celebrating 90 years since it was first screened, accompanied with a new live score from The Cabinet of Living Cinema. The BEAF Street Festival will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6, bringing arts onto the precinct in Boscombe, including life-sized 2D characters by local artist Jake Trickette.

There will be music and performances, workshops and a massive floor mural.

BEAF 2019 is supported by Arts Council England and Bournemouth Coastal BID. For the full programme visit b-e-a-f.co.uk