400 Years and Beyond

Animated Objects are taking over St Mary's Parish Church from 13 November to 13 December with 400 Years and Beyond, a series of animated projections that look back at Scarborough's history. The exhibition marks the 400th anniversary of the first seaside spa town in England, and it asks how that milestone fits into the wider story of the town.

The whole thing is built around handmade illuminations and lanterns, with themes chosen by the public. It works its way through Scarborough's past and then looks ahead to people's hopes and wishes for the future, so it's as much about what's next as what's already happened. The lanterns, illuminations and sculptural pieces were supported by public funding from Arts Council England.

Behind it is Animated Objects, a Scarborough-based artist group with more than 25 years of experience in creating ambitious, community-focused work. This is their kind of thing—taking a local anniversary and turning it into something the community actually had a hand in shaping, rather than just a date on a calendar. The projections bring the handmade pieces to life, so it's not just a static display.

It runs for a full month, from 13 November to 13 December, with 30-minute sessions every day at 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 6:30 PM. Because it's a series of sessions rather than a single showing, you can pick the time that suits you best across the run.