SO Festival 2025, a celebration of International Performances, Community Engagement, and Creative Exchange
SO Festival 2025 has once again proven to be a resounding success, captivating audiences across East Lindsey and further afield with a vibrant celebration of outdoor arts, international collaboration, and community creativity.
This year’s festival expanded its impact with:
- Four-day programme of performances
- Three-day SEAScape Conference
- Seven-day programme of community activities in Skegness and Mablethorpe.
The festival brought together artists from six countries, alongside talent from the UK and Lincolnshire, offering a rich mix of acrobatics, comedy, puppetry, and dance.
SEAScape Conference
The SEAScape Conference welcomed international arts professionals to Skegness to reflect on the legacy of the Black/North SEAS Festival (2009) and explore the evolving landscape of contemporary arts across Europe. With participants from nine countries, the conference fostered dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing creative practitioners today, emphasising the vital role of the arts in shaping resilient coastal communities.
Community Activities
SO Festival introduced a dedicated community programme for 2025, developed in consultation with local groups. Workshops ranged from Special Effects Make-Up, to an Introduction to AI, to Parkour, with most sessions fully booked and drop-in sessions drawing strong attendance. The Street Art Workshop resulted in a large-scale mural, now proudly displayed at the Sherwood Community and Youth Hut. Festival-goers also enjoyed accessible aerial acrobatics and a children-designed festival trail.
