Public events programme to begin at SEE Monster this Bank Holiday weekend

More details are announced today about the free public events programme that kicks off during August Bank Holiday weekend, as SEE Monster’s transformation continues at the iconic Tropicana, in Weston-super-Mare.

‘The Awakening’ marks the emergence of the monster as it changes from a decommissioned North Sea offshore platform into one of the UK’s biggest art installations.

Beachside events will begin with three free drone shows, which will fill the night-time sky on Sunday 28 August, Tuesday 30 August and Thursday 1 September, created by the award-winning studio Skymagic, whose work includes the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and London New Year’s Eve celebrations. These magical moments will illuminate the story of SEE Monster and its journey from the North Sea to Weston-super-Mare, along with tales of reuse, renewables, and the great British weather.

Over the following weeks, ‘The Transformation’ can be witnessed from the newly built Viewing Platform, situated inside the Tropicana. During this time, people will see the decommissioned offshore platform evolve, as it is rehabilitated with an oasis of grasses, plants and trees selected to thrive in a seaside microclimate; shimmering scales made up of 6,000 pieces that form the kinetic façade; artist-designed experiments in renewable energy generation; and a seated amphitheatre, from which the coastline and Wales may be seen from the telescopes onboard.

SEE Monster’s Studio will also open in partnership with BBC Radio Bristol who will be broadcasting regular shows from the SEE Monster site, piloting new pop-up studio technology. This space will also be used by national and international broadcasters, content creators and educators, to tell stories of the monster’s themes.

SEE Monster’s roar will be heard when the waterfall begins its cascade in September, along with the unique lighting design, which will mark the next phase for this one-of-a-kind immersive public art installation.

By the end of September, visitors will be able to climb onboard this 35-metre beast of the sea, be immersed in clouds as they enter the Cellar, and witness renewable technologies in the Garden Lab, before reaching the pinnacle of the monster at the Helideck - a space that will reveal hitherto unseen coastal views.

Patrick O’Mahony, Creative Director and Founder of Newsubstance, the Leeds-based studio leading SEE Monster’s creative team, said, “This is an extraordinarily exciting project to be working on, and we’re thrilled that the transformation of SEE Monster is underway."

SEE Monster is a world-first and while this has taken longer than anticipated, we are incredibly grateful to the people of Weston-super-Mare, as well as North Somerset and Weston Town Councils for their support and patience on this journey.”

SEE Monster is one of ten major creative projects commissioned as part of Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, which is currently underway in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer at Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, commented: “SEE Monster is no doubt the biggest of the Unboxed projects, physically, but what it shares with the other nine, is incredible creative ambition. SEE Monster brings together enormously talented people from art, engineering, science, and design to make something that has never been done before. It’s about testing ideas for the future and our thanks go out to the people of Weston-super-Mare for welcoming this bold experiment, which we hope they will be very proud to have helped create.”

Councillor Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy at North Somerset Council, said: “SEE Monster is capturing the imaginations of residents and visitors who are eagerly watching its transformation from an offshore platform to a monster. The arrival in July was just the warm-up act, but the drone shows will be spectacular curtain raisers for what promises to be a very exciting autumn in Weston-super-Mare.”