THE second year of Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea Festival promises to be another weird and wonderful affair.

The launch party at the WestBeach gave a small taster of things to come with some performance art that will be on show during the month of events starting at the end of September.

And supporters of the festival told how they believe it will build on last year’s debut.

Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Director for the South West said: “With venues across the town and a range of art forms from literature to dance, there’s something to appeal to everyone.

“We’re delighted to support this festival.

“It has been created with strong partnerships to engage the people of Bournemouth.”

Now in its second year, the festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town as it did last year.

Last year the Electric Hotel in the Lower Gardens and the Grand Grotesque Parade were among the popular features.

Tony Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Bournemouth Borough Council called the festival “a great example of the council encouraging new ideas, stimulating economic development and improving the arts offer in the town.”

He said: “I would like to thank the Arts University College Bournemouth and Arts Council England for leading the work and adding that little something extra to the UK’s best resort.”

And Stuart Bartholomew, Principle & CEO of the Arts University College at Bournemouth, one of the sponsors, said arts events are important for the economy.

He said: “The arts and the creative industries associated with them are not just important to the local economy but as the third largest contributor to UK GDP they are one of the success stories of the UK economy.

“The richness and diversity of the festival is an opportunity to remind us that not only are the arts alive and flourishing in the UK but that the engine of that cultural and economic growth is the education provided by universities such as the Arts University College at Bournemouth.”