The Atkinson in Southport has been awarded a £248,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an ambitious community engagement programme celebrating seaside entertainment and preserving its cultural legacy for future generations.

Rich and enduring history

Traditional seaside entertainment is widely recognised as heritage at risk. Southport, however, has a rich and enduring history of entertainment dating back to the 19th century. Thanks to this funding, The Atkinson will preserve the artistry of British seaside entertainment, create a new oral history archive, and expand opportunities for cultural engagement across Sefton.

The Atkinson’s Southport: That’s Entertainment project builds on Southport’s wider 2026 Elegantly Eccentric programme of cultural activity. It comes at a significant moment for the town, as Southport continues to reflect and recover following the tragic events of 2024. In response, there has been a strong national focus on renewal, with the pride and resilience of residents proving truly inspiring.

New oral history archive

At the heart of the project is a call for the public to share their Southport memories. Southport: That’s Entertainment invites people to contribute to a new oral history archive by recounting their experiences of entertainment in the town, from the excitement of the fairground to music, theatre and variety shows, seaside holidays, and everything in between.

These recordings will be digitally archived on the local history website, Sefton Looking Back, ensuring free and lasting public access.

A newly appointed Heritage Officer will work alongside a network of volunteers and cultural partners to deliver an extensive public programme, including training opportunities, workshops, talks, audio recordings and creative activities.

Community grants

In collaboration with Sefton Council for Voluntary Service, two rounds of community grants will further broaden participation, enabling local performers, artists and community groups to develop their own creative responses to the project.

As a lasting legacy, Southport: That’s Entertainment will contribute to a temporary exhibition in The Atkinson’s art gallery in 2027 and directly inform the development of a new permanent exhibition in the museum, set to open in 2028. The exhibitions will showcase the oral history archive alongside memorabilia that captures a vibrant cultural past, much of which risks being lost as seaside resorts evolve in the modern era.

Together, these initiatives will preserve artefacts and shared memories for future generations, ensuring Southport’s unique entertainment heritage continues to inspire as the town looks to the future.

Councillor Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement at Sefton Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Southport and a real boost for our communities.

“Southport’s seaside heritage is part of who we are, and this project will help people of all ages share their stories and feel proud of where they live.

“It’s also a great example of how culture can bring people together, support recovery, and create new opportunities for creativity and learning across the Borough.”

Get involved

Want to be part of the legacy? Visit The Atkinson’s website at https://theatkinson.co.uk to find out how to get involved. New opportunities, events and updates will be shared throughout the project.

Dave Tetlow, The Atkinson’s Principal Manager: Museum & Art Gallery, said: “We are delighted to receive this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can celebrate and safeguard Southport’s unique entertainment heritage.

"Big Top is about people and place, bringing communities together to share memories, uncover stories, and ensure this rich cultural legacy is preserved and passed on for future generations.”

Find out more about The Atkinson here.