Claire Griffiths, Author at Blackpool Social Club

07 Apr

Future Popular – Supporting #Blackcool

LeftCoast’s commissioning scheme, Future Popular, is once again seeking out exciting and ambitious projects from artists or creative producers from Blackpool or Wyre. The scheme, which has to date supported twenty three projects with over one hundred thousand pounds of investment, is now entering its fifth round and has a new emphasis on even more ambitious projects across three strands. I imagined what Future Popular was in the summer of 2015 along with my good friend and co-conspirator: Jill Reidy. We conjured up “Whipper Snappers”, a series of free junior photography workshops created to hopefully inspire and engage. We initially…

22 Mar

Be The Banana Skin

Claire Griffiths1 CommentVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Blott Art Studios in Blackpool, UK, established for since 2000 and based in the heart of Blackpool and run by the passionate and proactive Corrine Streetly. Their latest exhibition entitled Be The Banana Skin (On The Patriarchy's Complacent Stroll) is a ‘Feminist Art’ intervention based in Blackpool, North West, UK, opened to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8th and running until 31st March. I try not think about being a woman or feminism a great deal, I think I try to ignore being a female where I can, ignoring the limitations and labels society sometimes places on me,…

03 Nov

Gallery: Blackpool Music Festival

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Blackpool Music Festival saw a plethora of bands take to stages across Blackpool last month and Maureen shares her shots from the festival. Images courtesy of Maureen Blair.

06 Oct

Gallery: Ride the Lights

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News

Ride the Lughts gallery courtesy of CJGriffiths Photography and VisitBlackpool.

16 Sep

Museum in The Making

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsHeritage

I attended Museum in The Making in Blackpool last week along with a whole host of visitors, artists and performers. I caught up with the organisers to tell me a little more about what we can expect. Can you tell us briefly what the project is all about? The vision is to create a brand new museum telling ‘The Blackpool Story’. However, this is no conventional museum – it will be a dynamic and celebratory space - a blend of museum, visitor attraction and theatre, filled with artefacts, film, music and performance. It will be immersive, participatory and inclusive. It…

12 Sep

Skool of Street Urban Arts in Fleetwood, YO!

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Skool of Street is an urban arts collective which provides workshops in arts derived from urban culture, for young people aged 7-19 in the Blackpool and Wyre area. Workshops include, street and breakdance, acting and physical theatre, graffiti, rap, Djing, beatboxing and film making. They take place during school holidays and attendance is absolutely FREE. Skool of Street has successfully delivered four courses over the past year and to celebrate they are hosting their very own festival of urban arts which takes place at the Marine Hall on 13 September 2015, from 12-4pm. The festival is free to attend and…

06 Aug

The Art of Rebellion

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

With Blackpool's own Rebellion Punk Festival fast approaching, I spent some time talking to dedicated artist David Worth who features and sells his work at the festival and further afield. Get his story here: Who are you and what do you do? I am David Worth, I create digital caricatures under the name of Punk Rock Cartoons. These are cartoons of musicians, bands and people from the world of Punk, Rock, Alternative, Pop and Movies. How long have you been in Blackpool and what’s your background? I was born, raised and still live in Blackpool. My art background is an…

16 Jul

Horrible Histories and their Groovy Greeks

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News

I love these shows and could easily attend by myself, however I managed to convince my nephews to accompany me to the show so I could enjoy this awesome piece of children's theatre. Arriving late and sneaking in, I joined the rest of my family to a Greek tragedy being played out on stage with the actors playing the parts of mum, dad, daughter and son investigating what the Greeks brought to our current every day lives. What I love about these shows is how accessible they make history, engaging the audience with songs and shouting, making references to "bottom…

29 Jun

Norman Jay in Lytham – What Can I Say?

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

As the final curtain draws to a close for the captivating Alfresco events, the last and maybe greatest DJ for me was invited to say a fond farewell through his music. The Alfresco team were chased out of their original home of Blackpool Cricket Club by local residents' unrest at possible noise pollution and the final show was relocated to Lytham Rugby Club. The weather started off in a typical rainy fashion but as Norman Jay's set drew closer the sun began to shine furiously. Enjoy a few images from a really successful set and well done to all the…

15 Jun

Caran Caravan Photography Exhibition

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

This exhibition at the Galleon Coffee Bar runs until the end of the month and it is well worth a visit. Unusually, the photographer's social media presence is limited to Instagram, but what a following she has on there and you can see why. Caran's images depict a cinematic feel, shooting only on 35mm film and using dark room techniques, that feeling of serendipity that is sometimes lost in digital photography is alive and well and screaming visually from the walls. A good photographer aspires to tell stories, to draw the viewer into their world. The exhibition is titled: Gossip,…