Winter Gardens Illuminate! is a collaboration between Out There Arts and Great Yarmouth Borough Council to get local young people excited about the Winter Gardens and an opportunity to work with professional artists to follow a creative brief.
The Winter Gardens was first built in Torquay between 1878 and 1881. The building was bought by J.W.Cockrill in 1903 and transported by barge to Great Yarmouth where it still stands today. The building has been empty since 2008 but is set to open its doors again in 2027 after significant building works. Local students have been invited to reflect on the building’s past and help design its future.
After studying the Winter Gardens rich history, students have taken part in workshops covering the artforms: photography, animation and sound. Some workshops even took place inside the Winter Gardens. The students are then encouraged to create their own multimedia work inspired by the Winter Gardens’ colourful past.
The Winter Gardens will be an illuminated landmark on Great Yarmouth’s seafront for the first time in over 15 years. The content created by the students will be projected onto the exterior of the Winter Gardens in the first week of Easter Holidays from the 7th – 13th April, 7:30pm-9:30pm. Students will be able to share their work with friends, family and members of the public on a huge canvas.
Alex Costello, Head of Photography at Cliff Park Ormiston Academy and award-winning artist, said: “The students have responded with great energy and enthusiasm, expanding their skills and experiences by working with creative professionals. This in turn has meant their confidence has grown due to seeing their work presented in public which is the ‘real artist’ experience”.
Whilst the students were not even born when the Winter Gardens shut its doors, they have been fascinated by its illustrious past. Their imaginations have been sparked by talks with Debby Besford, who used to train in the Winter Gardens and went on to roller skate for Great Britain.
Debby, now a professional photographer, said: ‘‘It’s a place filled with memories, not just for me, but for generations who have skated and danced under its glass roof. Documenting this historic venue through photography feels vital in preserving its connection to the local community and Great Yarmouth’s rich sports and cultural heritage.’’
The Winter Gardens Illuminate! Project will mark the end of the building in its current state and the beginning of its regeneration. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has received £12.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to breathe life back into the building. The restoration of the prominent landmark is set to finish in 2027 when the building will once again be open to the public.
Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘‘The ambitious regeneration of the Winter Gardens means we will have a nationally significant landmark building here on the seafront in Great Yarmouth that is at the heart of the town’s life, economy and historical legacy.
‘’It will provide a unique experience for residents and visitors and we have imaginative and exciting planting strategies. Our team has been guided by invaluable assistance from stakeholders and partners including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Cambridge University, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and others.
”Apart from working to save the building, we aim to create an all-year-round destination and a community venue focused on free access for local people.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We invest in heritage to bring about benefits for people and places. Through the creativity of young people, stories from the Winter Gardens’ past are being brought to life to help even more people learn about its remarkable history.”
