By Julie Waters
SEACOURT Print Workshop is set to breathe new life into Bangor’s fast-growing cultural quarter by holding the first Bingham Lane festival next month.
Due to be held over two days – on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12 – the festival will bring art, performance, cinema and song to the historic lane, as it spills out onto Central Avenue and Bingham Mall.
Seacourt Print Workshop, a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural scene since 1981, has been in residence in the former Ulster Bank building in Bangor’s city centre since 2021.
This main street location underwent extensive renovations last summer, transforming it into an accessible, state-of-the-art printmaking facility designed to nurture artistic expression, expand services and strengthen community engagement.
This particular area of Bangor is quickly establishing itself as the city’s Cultural Quarter, with the historic Bingham Lane an integral part of the map, connecting organisations, people and stories.
A concept plan, commissioned by the council and led by OGU Architects last year, illustrated some innovative ways to use the empty spaces around this area of Bangor.
Seeing the plans, and hearing the conversations leading from this, gave the Seacourt team the impetus to take some action and they are excited to reveal the pilot Bingham Lane Festival will take place next month.
This will create a looping trail around the city linking the cultural hubs, hospitality and retail offerings and bringing energy and footfall to the city centre.
Seacourt is taking a lead on delivering the event but it is a festival made by a coalition of community and business partners working together to bring life to this part of the city that includes The Old Market House and Kilcooley Women’s Centre, Studio 1A theatre, the Methodist Church and Boom Studios.
The aim of the festival is to animate the city centre, bring the building owners and organisations around the lane together to create a city centre community and attract residents of Bangor to spend the afternoon and evening in the city.
Bingham Lane will be transformed through light and decoration to welcome festival goers to this unique experience on Saturday, October from 12pm to 8pm and Sunday, October 13 from 1pm to 5pm.
To follow along with developments and view detailed plans, visit Seacourt’s website at www.seacourtprintworkshop.com or follow Seacourt on Instagram – seacourtprints or Facebook – Seacourt Print Workshop.
