Left Behind
How LeftCoast reframed some of Blackpool’s most enduring social issues through five artist commissions
By Arts Council England
Story curated by LeftCoast
Left Behind - Mereside (2022) by Claire GriffithsArts Council England
The Financial Times and its findings (2018)
The FT article reported Blackpool’s soaring rates of antidepressant usage and its alarming reduction in life expectancy. Blackpool’s Director of Public Health called the town “the country’s half-way house” expected to re-home those struggling to cope with non-institutional life.
Residents Respond
The article stated: "Blackpool exports healthy, skilled people and imports the unskilled, the unemployed and the unwell". Local residents wanted to challenge and respond to this negative perception of the town through LeftCoast and the Left Behind programme.
Paul Berry - Left Behind by Paul BerryArts Council England
Commissioning the artists
A panel of ten residents, including artists, academics and business owners, commissioned five artworks. Each one served as an invitation to engage in a conversation with LeftCoast about how society can reframe Blackpool’s enduring social issues in a different and considered way.
Photographer Craig Easton visited Blackpool when working for London's Independent newspaper and Paris' Liberation in the 90s. He documented the daily lives of the Williams family, who were living in a homeless hostel. This controversial work coined the term ‘The Underclass’ in British media. LeftCoast commissioned Craig to revisit the family 30 years later to see if they had escaped the poverty trap. His images document very little change to their prosperity and life circumstances.
Kristi (one of the original children) said:
"If we can’t be seen, we don’t have to be bothered about, so we end up in places out of the way, where you can’t be seen, where people don’t have to see your lifestyle, see how your kids grow up. If it’s not seen, then they don’t have to claim they know about it, do they?"
The Golden Repair 3 (2018) by Jayne SimpsonArts Council England
The Golden Repair
Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, local artist Jayne Simpson used the Kintsugi technique (Golden Repair) to place "golden seams" in Blackpool’s streets, to heal what felt broken and to gift specially-chosen places a newfound strength and resilience.
Patricia - Still from filmArts Council England
Patricia
Bella Riza and Emily Briselden-Waters made a poignant film that explored how Patricia moved to Blackpool and overcame her addictions. It's a story of recovery that looks at how the town, its residents, and the rhythms of the sea, can help people to become well again.
Pearls of Wisdom was a commission by artist duo Grennan and Sperandio. The work was designed to challenge the preconception that people who live in areas of high deprivation live their lives without wisdom and resourcefulness. It takes great skill to live a joyful life with little material means. The work was published in the Blackpool Gazette throughout November and December 2018, and January 2019.
Painting The Town
Laura Shevaun Green created an original paint palette inspired by local places telling residents' stories. In response, LeftCoast developed a commercial paint range to gift colour to communities and partners. Ocean Boulevard at Pleasure Beach is the most visible example of this.
Looking Forward
Blackpool has been awarded £39.5million from the government’s Town Deal Fund. This supports seven new capital projects to boost Blackpool’s regeneration and economic recovery. It will help to rebuild tired and weathered parts of the town as well as the resort’s reputation.
Blackpool Central aerial view (2022) by NikalArts Council England
Blackpool Central
The Town Deal re-imagines Blackpool Central with a new indoor theme park, an artisan food hall and boutique holiday apartments. It will boost annual spending in the town by £75m, create 1000+ jobs and attract 600,000 new visitors to experience more attractions, arts and culture.
LeftCoast website: https://leftcoast.org.uk/
Financial Times article: https://www.ft.com/blackpool
Left Behind: https://leftcoast.org.uk/leftbehind/
The Poverty Trap: https://leftcoast.org.uk/thepovertytrap/
Golden Repair: https://leftcoast.org.uk/thegoldenrepair/
Patricia: https://leftcoast.org.uk/patricia/
Pearls of Wisdom: https://leftcoast.org.uk/pearlsofwisdom/
Painting the Town: https://leftcoast.org.uk/paintthetown/
Title slide credit: Paul Berry
The story was curated by LeftCoast as part of Arts Council's Northern Stories collection.
