Work starts on removing chalk outlines along Bournemouth seafront

Bournemouth arts charity Pavilion Dance South West produced videos of dances and street art, using chalk paint, as part of their Invisible Dances programme at the beginning of the month.

However, the process of removing the chalk paint left on the promenade could take up to a week due to the amount of people using the public walkway.

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A spokesman from Cleaner By Miles, the company contracted by Pavilion Dance to clean the chalk paint, said: “It is going to be a week’s work because we can only do early mornings because once footfall builds up, we can’t really do it.

“It is going to be a long process.

“We are using steam to remove the chalk paint and no chemicals will be used.”

The outlines, which are made using a water-based chalk paint, run along the promenade from Sandbanks to Southbourne, as well as outside the lower entrance to the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre.

BCP Council, who granted permissions for the Invisible Dance arts event, said that any chalk paint still visible after three weeks would be removed by Pavilion Dance.

However, the markings have being removed just over two weeks since the first outlines were drawn.

Artistic Director and CEO of Pavilion Dance South West, Zannah Chisholm said: “We have always been committed to ensuring that, by the end of April, all the colourful traces of Invisible Dances will have disappeared once more.

“The process is ongoing and will be completed by the end of next week.

“We have been delighted by the videos and photos we have received from our local community who have been inspired by the work, from those joining the dance along the lines to the young children chalk-drawing some of their own to match.

“Invisible Dances is a temporary piece meant to help our community to engage with the arts while buildings remain shut, and we’re thrilled so many people have been able to do so in a safe way.”