Some of you may remember the photography competition we ran over the summer to find some new photos for the open air gallery on Minehead seafront! We had some fantastic entries from our wonderful community that reminded us just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful town.

And we are now pleased to announce the winning entries have now been chosen, printed and are displayed in the gallery. We hope you enjoy looking through the winning entries as much as we did.

Thank you to our great judges Cllr Craig Palmer and Priddy's Photo Shop for volunteering their time to select the winning entries.

Thank you also to Somerset West and Taunton Council and EDF Energy's Hinkley Point Community Impact Mitigation Fund for funding this project.

Finally, thank you to Somerset Sign and Print for working with us on this project. A job well done.

Photo credit to each photographer has been included below the photos.

​Saturday 3rd September saw the first ever Minehead Bay Festival, a celebration of arts, culture and wellness on Minehead seafront. Planned and organised by the Minehead and Coast Development Trust (MCDT), Kite Project and the Minehead Eye, the festival celebrated Minehead’s unique personality and the people and organisations that set Minehead apart.

​Having worked tirelessly for the last three months to conceptualise, plan and prepare for the launch of the Minehead Bay Festival, our Project Coordinator and Event Manager, Zara Aitken, said, “It was absolutely incredible to see hundreds of people, young and old, families, couples, holiday makers and locals enjoying the free activities, music and performances we had planned for the day. We really wanted to celebrate Minehead and deliver a completely unique experience that will help to put Minehead on the map. We have been overwhelmed with positive feedback from those who attended and it made all the hard work totally worth it. I can’t wait to start planning for next year!”

​Rwkus, a Nu-Jazz, Hip Hop and Latin influenced quintet from Bristol, kicked off festivities on the music stage in style. Rwkus were followed by various musicians ranging from local shanty group The Stoggymen, to folk duo Nick Parker and Ben Wain, with solo performances from Minehead’s very own Wob Williams and acoustic singer songwriter, Bob Gallie. The festival closed with a bang thanks to epic performances from punk band Alcohol Licks, and local alternative rock trio, Hi-Jacked.

​Elsewhere on the seafront, Minehead Eye held skating jams and free skating tuition on their portable skate ramp, while three professional street artists painted striking murals for enthusiastic attendees. Watchet’s East Quay ran free art workshops for families in our art and crafts tent, while Minehead’s SASP and Alex Simpson from Sound-Well in Dunster helped attendees to unwind in the wellness tent, with free yoga, meditative gong baths and immersive story-telling. 

​Maya Clayden, Deputy Event Manager and Coordinator of The Kite Project said “It was amazing to see crowds of people completely enthralled by the daring stunts and circus shows from the fantastic Higher Beings Circus, as well as the families and children getting involved in the Wild Wellies Forest School activities. We tried to make sure the festival delivered something for everyone and we are so grateful to the fabulous organisations, businesses and people that came together to make this event such a success, especially all of our wonderful volunteers and Minehead’s Rotary Club who helped us staff the event with their willing volunteers. Also not forgetting the brilliant Minehead BID for helping us to promote the event and providing two Summer Ambassadors as volunteers on the day.”

​The festival was well-attended by members of the local community, as well as drawing in visitors from further afield. During the festival, one long time Minehead resident said “I’ve lived in Minehead my whole life, and I’ve never seen it looking as vibrant as it does today!” 

​MCDT Trustee, Graham Sizer explained how the festival was funded by Somerset West and Taunton Council and the Hinkley Point C Community Impact Mitigation Fund which was negotiated with EDF Energy as part of a wider mitigation package for the site preparation works at Hinkley Point in West Somerset. He added, “Thanks to the funders and the people who worked so hard to deliver this event, Minehead enjoyed a day of art, culture and wellness in beautiful surroundings. We really hope this can be something that we can build on each year”.

If you would like to get involved in the next Minehead Bay Festival of any future upcoming events, contact Zara Aitken via email at [email protected].

Minehead and Coast Development Trust are inviting photographic entries into a 2022 photography competition that will proudly showcase Minehead as it was and as it is now. The theme for the competition is 'Minehead - Then and Now', which aims to celebrate Minehead's heritage, history, and more modern features, as well as our friendly, vibrant and supportive community. The winning entries will be proudly and permanently exhibited on the open air gallery on Minehead Seafront for all to see.

​We hope to receive some wonderful photographs of Minehead and surrounding areas that illustrate just how lucky we are to live, work and play in such a beautiful town that is rich in history. We are looking for photos that were taken in or around Minehead in the 'olden days' which depict its past history and heritage. Equally, we are looking for modern day recently-taken images/photographs of interest in or around Minehead that capture Minehead and its community as it is now.