ARTS by the Sea festival organisers have revealed the first wave of “outdoor spectaculars” commissioned for the 2021 event.

The Bournemouth-based arts and culture festival returns this year after a range of “immersive” experiences were added.

A festival spokesperson said: “From hypnotic sound and light installations, immersive experiences of optical illusion, to the breath-taking 3D projection mapping of Bournemouth Town Hall, Arts by the Sea has commissioned some of the UK’s leading names in creative and visual art for its 2021 programme.”

The projection mapping on Bournemouth Town Hall has been created by video artists NOVAK and a hypnotic light and sound installation by international visual artist Romain Tardy on Sandbanks beach.

The festival has received £10,000 in funding from Bournemouth Town Centre BID to stage the optical illusion show CROSSROADS at Horseshoe Common.

Paul Kinvig, COO for Bournemouth BID, said: “We are proud to be supporting the programme in Horseshoe Common as we believe it will bring increased footfall and provide increased opportunity for visitors to experience the restaurants, cafés, bars and other great businesses in that part of the Town Centre.

“Arts by the Sea is part of the important cultural offering that is playing a vital part in encouraging residents and visitors to reconnect with the town centre and thus shares our goals and aspirations.”

Taking place from Friday October 1 to Sunday October 3 – with some programming extended beyond these dates – across Bournemouth’s town centre and seafront locations, Arts by the Sea attracts tens of thousands of people each year.

With entertainment for people of all ages, the free-to-attend festival is now in its 11th year and is delivered by BCP Council in association with Arts Council England.

For more information, visit: www.artsbythesea.co.uk