A Morecambe artist is planning an event where he will give out 'Free Money' to reward up to 100 local creative people.
Anthony Padgett says he will host a showcase event for artists, writers, singers, dancers, filmmakers and musicians where up to 100 of them will get a share of a fundraising pot.
The Free Money event will be held in the Arndale shopping centre on Saturday July 6 as part of the Morecambe People's Biennial of Creativity organised by Anthony that weekend.
He has set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money to divide between creative people from the Morecambe and Heysham area.
"There are so many brilliant creative people in the area and they receive no funding," said Anthony.
"But this isn't just about the money, it is about being recognised and appreciated for all the great work they do to help make Morecambe a better place to live in.
"Being creative has mental and physical health benefits to the community. So we want to reward people for being part of communities that share their feelings and emotions through their creativity.
"So often I see external artists parachuted into Morecambe to provide art and workshops. And meanwhile the local artists in the community are stigmatised as not being good enough.
"It's important to give our own creatives the encouragement they deserve. We want to celebrate what makes our the local art community special and not the same global art that is shown everywhere."
People will need to be over 18 and bring or show an example of their creativity, proof of their identity (drivers licence, passport etc) and proof of their residency in Morecambe/Heysham (north of the Lune and east of Hest Bank).
It is first come first served with an orderly queue from 5pm. People will then display their art, dance or music in the Arndale and at 6pm will be awarded their funding.
"Please pledge your help as the more money raised the more will go to local creative people," said Anthony.
The fundraising page can be found here.
Last year Anthony unveiled drainpipe sculptures of boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The Free Money project is just one part of the People's Biennial of Creativity, which will happen at locations across Morecambe including the Winter Gardens, the Kings Arms, the West End Playhouse, Morecambe Library and the Arndale Centre, on July 6 and 7.
Artists from across the region are also invited to show work or perform in Morecambe and have it listed on the Biennial Art Map.
Stalls are available from Anthony at the Winter Gardens and Kings Arms where there will be performances through the day and evening.
"I've been working with various international groups on the way that Artificial Intelligence will remove many jobs and how need to start thinking about what we will do in a world of Universal Basic Income," said Anthony.
"This project is to encourage Morecambe to position itself as a model for what a post-work creative and leisure economy can look like."
The event is supported by Morecambe Artists Colony, the Salon Morecambe and the West End Playhouse.
The award winning artist, who is also known locally as a vintage dance teacher, is no stranger to creating art in Morecambe - and indeed all over the UK - that gets people talking.
He is the brains behind the Morecambe Bay Art Fair, where he unveiled drainpipe sculptures of boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua at the Winter Gardens in 2023.
Anthony also ran the town's first ever 'Deepfake' art exhibition at Morecambe Library last year and created the Praying Shell sculpture which overlooks the Bay at Bolton-le-Sands.
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