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North Somerset Council will now focus on the legacy left behind by the UNBOXED creation, that brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area during its time in North Somerset.
The drone shows during the opening of the Monster bought tens of thousands of people to the seafront, with some seeing a drone show for the first time, highlighting what can be done with new technologies linking into the STEAM legacy. Businesses fed back that it was an incredibly busy three days, with the promenade and town centre bustling with visitors enjoying the spectacular free show.
Community ‘Think Tank’ groups were created by SEE MONSTER to bring together 6,000 individuals from across North Somerset with a focus on the community and what could be achieved through the art installation. These community groups will continue to collaborate in a different format meeting regularly to continue the good works created from the original think tanks.
SEE MONSTER welcomed more than 70,000 school children, young people, scouts, youth groups and students with educational trips focusing on the learning programme, showcasing how the Monster made its own fog, weather energy sources and experiments and resources that focused on STEAM, climate, the environment and culture.
The stunning jungle on the Monster will shortly be transported to a new community garden that will be created on the Beach Lawns on Weston’s seafront. The garden, which will be shaped like the helideck from the Monster, will include:
- Almost 1,000 plants, shrubs and trees which will leave the Monster and move to the garden
- Sleepers from the Monster to create attractive raised beds
- A boules area for the local community to enjoy as a family sport.
Cllr Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Growth at North Somerset Council, said: “The final visitor numbers for SEE MONSTER have exceeded all expectations. Businesses have fed back that tens of thousands more visitors have come to the town centre, with The Sovereign, based in the high street, seeing over 50,000 more shoppers come through their doors during the eight weeks of SEE MONSTER.
“The shrubs, plants and trees that we’ll use to create the new garden will leave a legacy that the community can enjoy for many years. The placement of the garden has been chosen to encourage more visits to that end of the beach, to keep the coastal planting on the seafront and to encourage more concessions in that area.
“The council is also actively looking at the future of the Tropicana and talking to interested parties following the success of SEE MONSTER as we build on the legacy that the Monster leaves us with.”
SEE MONSTER, was one of ten major projects commissioned by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK and presented in 2022. UNBOXED achieved an audience of 18 million across 107 UK-wide locations and through digital and broadcast programming.
Phil Batty, Executive Director of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, said “Like other UNBOXED projects, SEE MONSTER demonstrates what is possible when creative minds from science, engineering, art and other sectors come together to collaborate on new ideas. This extraordinary installation has captured the imaginations of local people and visitors to Weston, extending the season and boosting the economy of this great seaside town. The project has provided a platform for solutions-focused discussions about climate, reuse and sustainability. We're grateful for the support of North Somerset Council and the community, who have proudly put their town at the heart of these important conversations.”