The creative business sector is well represented in Boscombe, complemented by our three Universities located in the BCP Council area. Boscombe Creative Arts Festival (BEAF) and Boscombe Creative Alliance (BCA) are represented on the Bournemouth Towns Fund Board.

We are lucky to have an abundance of cultural event space including the 02 Academy and Shelley Theatre. This together with the fantastic beach and Pier has the potential to attract more visitors and businesses.

We will develop projects which will put the ‘spa’ back into Boscombe, by strengthening the cultural, leisure and arts offer, improving the health and wellbeing of residents whilst building on our unique heritage.

Cultural Events Programme

We're making exciting plans for a three year events programme to enhance the entertainment and cultural in Boscombe, whilst boosting a thriving night time economy.

This will mean that you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of events, with a possibility of an annual carnival or parade, right in the heart of the town, creating a vibrant and colourful experience for all.

The events programme will be planned and created by working with existing local artists, and has the potential to address cultural deprivation and bring an enhanced economic economic activity and jobs.

Royal Arcade

We are proud to be the home of the Royal Arcade, one of the finest Victorian shopping arcades in the south of England. The Grade Two listed building is an important Heritage Asset, our Jewel in the Crown, which people from Boscombe identify with.

Our vision is to sympathetically restore the facade of the Royal Arcade. We will renovate the ground floor creating an exciting leisure destination which will feature a food hall, cafes and restaurants as well as independent retail.

The first floor will be converted to workspace for businesses, entrepreneurs, meeting rooms for retailers, etc. The Boscombe Skills hub will occupy part of the first floor for digital skills learning and business support.

The project aims to create 183 jobs and attract 52 new enterprises.

 

Completed projects include:

Mural of Boscombe Owl on Ashley Road

BEAF were commissioned to curate a number of murals and the Boscombe Owl was completed in 2021.

Mural in Centenary Way underpass

A local artist from MBN arts recreated artwork from local school children to form a wildlife themed mural.

The Coastal BID

We provided funding to the Coastal BID to fund various improvements to the precinct, including new planters, festoon lighting and a digital projector for new artwork aimed at supporting the night time economy.