New exhibition set to celebrate Weston’s High Street Heritage Action Zone
North Somerset Council and Super Culture are inviting people to visit a new exhibition from Thursday 18 January to discover more about the work of Weston-super-Mare’s High Street Heritage Action Zone and celebrate its legacy.
‘All Together Now’ is a free exhibition opening on Thursday 18 January and running between 10am and 3pm, Thursday to Sunday each week, until Sunday 11 February 2024. It will occupy unit 27 of the Sovereign on the town’s High Street.
The exhibition will showcase how many of the town’s buildings have been restored to their former glory. It will also look back at the cultural programme – 21st Century super Shrines – run by Super Culture over the last four years creating artworks and experiences with local communities.
Visitors will also be able to find out more about what’s happening next in the town as the UK government’s Levelling Up funded projects are delivered.
Weston had two Heritage Action Zones in its town centre thanks to a combined investment of £2m from Historic England. The Great Weston Heritage Action Zone ended in September 2022, while the High Street Heritage Action Zone will end in March 2024.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for Heritage Action Zones, said: “Weston has seen significant improvements as a result of the interest Historic England has shown in our town, and the funding it has provided to restore and preserve our heritage for current and future generations. We’re very grateful and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Historic England. Without them this work would not have been possible. I’d also like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in delivering these projects.
“I’m delighted that we’re sharing the work with residents through this free exhibition, and I’d encourage everyone to visit to find out more – about what’s been done and what’s planned in the future. There’s a lot of fantastic and positive work happening in the town, so now’s your opportunity to pop along and learn more about it.”
Fiona Matthews, Creative Director at Super Culture, said: “21st Century super Shrines has been a glorious creative adventure on the high street. Hundreds of local people have worked alongside a host of brilliant artists to make a series of unique creative tributes to the town and its people. Over the past four years, we’ve explored Weston’s rich heritage to create distinctive experiences that encapsulate the energy and passion of the people here and now. I’m immensely proud of the work that we’ve done to help people to build connections and create a community where they can feel. In the words of one of our community contributors ‘you are everything to me’!”
Rebecca Barrett, Regional Director at Historic England, said: “’All Together Now’ is a fantastic celebration of Weston’s High Street Heritage Acton Zone and all it has delivered – from beautifully restored historic buildings to a programme of vibrant cultural events that Weston excels at. The exhibition is a lovely record of what everyone involved in the HSHAZ has achieved and can be very proud of.”
More information can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/heritageactionzone
Sit back and enjoy this film, made by Nick Sutton, where Megan Clark-Bagnall, lead artist on 21st Century super Shrines, talks about the cultural programme and what it has achieved with the community over the past four years: