Lowestoft Town Council
‘A study of Lowestoft and the Sea’
On display from 6th June 2023 – please visit A Study of Lowestoft and The Sea - SeekBeak
Inspired by the fishing heritage and Lowestoft’s connection to the sea, three students from East Coast College Art and Design course have co-curated a digital exhibition for one of the rooms in the Virtual Town Hall.
The Virtual Town Hall is a self-guided digital tour of the historic Lowestoft Town Hall, created by Hugh Davies, the Town Hall project team and local historians David Butcher and Ivan Bunn. Whilst the building is closed for restoration, the Virtual Town Hall acts as a heritage gallery and information point with changing exhibitions which tell the story of Lowestoft and links to the many museums and heritage organisations in the town.
Designed by art students, the exhibition room offers insights of the past, present and future of the Lowestoft fishing industry, giving a feel of the sea and the stories told within.
The display brings together drawings, photographs, historic paintings and personal stories to celebrate the enduring influence of fishing and the sea in contemporary Lowestoft.
Drawing upon personal experiences and inspired by the Lowestoft Maritime Museum, Britain’s most easterly museum, students Eden Baptiste, Antony Heath and Lilliana Blakeburn have developed and produced a unique display that people can view from across the world.
‘It has been really exciting learning about the heritage of maritime and fishing in Lowestoft, and more about the town itself – remembering past stories and understanding the importance of the towns around us.’ - Antony Heath
‘A study of Lowestoft and the Sea’ features original drawings by Eden Baptiste, photographs and family history by Lilianna Blakeburn, and photographs and digital design by Antony Heath. Alongside these contemporary responses to fishing and the sea, the exhibition also includes their highlights from the collection at the Maritime Museum - including historic seascape paintings, the Prunier Trophy, and models of ships such as the Lydia Eva and one unusually presented in a lightbulb!
Working alongside designer Hugh Davies, the students have experimented with and learnt new skills in digital presentation techniques to design the layout, create content, and produce multi-media interpretation for the exhibition. Many works have been framed in decorative golden frames influences by the Scottish National Gallery, to catch the eye and bring an elegant contrast to the deep blue walls and wooden floor.
‘The students have thoroughly enjoyed participating in this local heritage project and are very proud of their contribution.’ - John Wicks, East Coast College
This collaboration with East Coast College has developed over the last four months, and is one of the pilot activities for the Lowestoft Town Hall Project.
The Lowestoft Town Hall Project is a Lowestoft Town Council initiative supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Towns Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Historic England and East Suffolk Council.
