‘Libertalia’ A Story of Pirates & Liberty
LIBERTALIA
‘The Libertalia’ An artist collective led by Isabel Lagos and Alexis Johnson.
‘Libertalia’ was a mythical free colony founded by 17th century Madagascan pirates in an unknown location in Europe, this multi-media exhibition co-curated by Arrested ReDevelopment’s Dawn Mander, Kate Yates and Libby Nightingale features the work of artist-pirates from Gothenburg, South America, Liverpool & Blackpool.
About
The exhibition, covering two floors of the now highly regarded venue and alternative gallery space HIVE Blackpool, tells the hidden story of European pirates that fought for people’s rights and guarded their liberties. They are said to have founded ‘Libertalia’ 300 years ago with pirate gold, to create a place where people could be equal and masters of their own destiny. Some believe Ingela Gathenhielm was its mastermind. Known as the pirate queen, she led a global pirate empire from her Pirate House in Gothenburg. 
The exhibition transports her pirate house to Blackpool, filling it with images, sounds and symbols that resonate with Ingela and what she stood for. It invites the Gathenhielm pirates back to help us imagine what Blackpool would look if it were ‘Libertalia’ today, asking audiences to contribute to a ‘Libertalia’ manifesto for Blackpool and raise the ‘Libertalia’ flag.
Who
An international collective of artists including Dawn Mander, Kate Yates, Marianne VanLoo , Libby Nightingale, John Mark Allen, Jorge Alcaide, Andrew Barrow, Dylan Cross, Jacquie Cross, Norma Foulds, Piet Geboers, Mark Hetherington, Simon Job, George Johnson, Mathew Jones, Beata Kuczynska, Teto Lagos, Lisa McQueenie, Olivia Du Monceau, Jess Monger, Gareth Monger, Andrea Norrington, Richard Oughton, Juan Carlos Poblete, Anna Ravliuc, Monica Mrozowska, Jackie Sarafopolis, Peter Jamieson Sinclair, Ruta Staseviciute, Douglas Stewart, Kieran Thresh, Tracey Vallance, Danielle Waine and Elizabeth Ward. With performances by Sean Brown, Laura Colville, Baz Garrod, Linda Hampton, Tom Wright, and local residents.
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