Banksy sets up Dismaland theme park at derelict seaside lido

“Residents had believed the 2.5-acre Tropicana site, a former lido, was being turned into a film shoot in a cover story maintained by the local council. A sign reading ‘Dismaland’ was erected across the front of the building and stewards wearing pink tabards with ‘Dismal’ on the back began working there. … Banksy described the park as ‘a festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism’, adding: ‘This is an art show for the 99% who’d rather be at Alton Towers.’ The Bristol-based artist was inspired to create the park after peeking through a gap in the fence at the Tropicana site in January. ‘It’s not a swipe at Disney,’ he said. ‘I banned any imagery of Mickey Mouse from the site. It’s a showcase for the best line-up of artists I could imagine, apart from the two who turned me down.’”

“He insists the site is not a ‘street art’ show, adding that the art form is ‘just as reassuringly white, middle class and lacking in women as any other art movement’.”

“Much of the work requires audience participation, with visitors able to photograph themselves behind a seaside-style piece with cut-out faces, featuring pirates carrying rifles. Inside Banksy’s princess castle lies a dead Cinderella spilling out of her crashed carriage, lit up by a group of photographers flashing their cameras and the light of a motorbike. A bus-mounted museum examines the role of design in social control, while a portable building in the children’s area offers loans against their pocket money.”

“North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton remained tight-lipped over when the authority had been made aware of Banksy’s plans. ‘It’s a fantastic show,’ he said. ‘It’s very, very thought provoking. Some of the messages are hard to accept but true nevertheless.’”

“The park was dismantled and shipped from Somerset—timber, fixtures and all—across the Channel to its new home in The Jungle, the camp where thousands are living as they try to enter the UK. The park’s version of the iconic Disney castle now stands over the camp where thousands living in makeshift tents, many having fled war-torn countries like Syria. Over two days, an unidentified group of people were building shelters in the camp, and just before dark on Thursday, a sign was erected over the buildings that says ‘Dismal Aid’.”

“The Russian group rehearse their performance to mark the closure of Banksy’s ‘bemusement’ park in Weston-super-Mare. The practice, which choreographs 25 actors and martial arts fighters in full police riot gear, took place at The Laundry”

“Every revolutionary ends up either by becoming an oppressor or a heretic.”

“Only a philosophy of eternity, in the world today, could justify non-violence.”

“Banksy’s Dismaland theme park has raked in a whopping £20 million for Weston-super-Mare’s economy. [Visit Somerset’s John] Turner said: ‘This has been a global phenomenon of major importance for the region, as we have seen a large international surge in what is a predominately a solid and reliable domestic market. The majority of businesses have been reporting up to 50% increases on last year and as this event overlapped in the most crucial time in the holiday calendar, could well see a further £20,000,000 coming back into the local and regional economy.’”

“Britain’s most disappointing tourist attraction is to be dismantled and sent to Calais to be shelter for migrants, creator Banksy has revealed. Work to take down Dismaland begins on Monday and the elusive street artist said all the timber and fixtures from the so-called Bemusement Park would be sent to ‘The Jungle’ camp, where thousands are camped.”

“Banksy has released a ‘television advert’ for his theme park Dismaland—promising visitors a place where ‘all your dreams come true’.”