WHATEVER you think of Sir David Amess’s Alternative City of Culture project, it has succeeded in drawing attention to Southend.

The Southend West MP, stung by Southend losing out to Hull in 2013 as UK City of Culture 2017, began working on his Alternative City of Culture project, intended to show off why Southend ought to have taken the crown.

Launched at Thames Estuary Yacht Club in Western Esplanade on Sunday, Sir David’s efforts have been lauded in some quarters and mocked in others, but the energy and dedication he has put into promoting a town he clearly feels passionate about cannot be denied.

It even solicited an endorsement from now ex-Prime Minister David Cameron in the House of Commons last week, telling MPs: “Although Hull is the official city of culture next year, I am sure that Southend will benefit from the tireless campaign that he has run. I certainly join him in encouraging people to go and see this excellent seaside town for themselves.”

Sir David has also used his time in Parliament to speak at length about the various cultural and innovative industries Southend has to offer, such as on Thursday, when he waxed lyrical on everything from Metal to the Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir (did you know it was the largest in the country?)

He said: “Southend’s contribution to the creative industries shows why the UK is an innovation-driven economy.

“We are renowned for breaking convention and being bold and daring in our creative industries. Yet we always do it with professionalism, style and swagger, and there are plenty of talented groups in Southend that display those qualities.

“The Southend Festival Chorus, the Eastwood Chorale, the Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir, of which I am a patron and which is the biggest male voice choir in the country, the South Essex Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Purple Goat Theatre group and the team behind the Southend Book and Arts fair provide just a snapshot of Southend’s flourishing creative industries.

“The launch of the alternative city of culture happens in Southend this Sunday and somewhere in the House of Commons next week. What a good thing it is to be able to have such wonderful events in the Jubilee Room, showing off the creative talents of all parts of the United Kingdom.”

Speaking on the new NetPark feature in Chalkwell Park, which allows visitors to view artwork and history through mobile apps, he added: “It was developed by a wonderful arts organisation called Metal and transformed empty or derelict spaces into vibrant cultural community hubs. It is a new visitor attraction for Southend and presented a collection of specially commissioned digital artworks and stories at Chalkwell park.

“All the works are experienced through a smart device, such as an iPad, an iPhone or an Android device. The inaugural collection has five artworks created by artists following an open-call selection process and five site-specific stories created by Southend school pupils working with writers and illustrators.

“In addition, the project includes an on-site digital education centre, the Metal Art School, equipped with both hardware and software, enabling ongoing R and D by artists and a range of digital creative learning in the curriculum.

“Other projects by Metal in Southend include the Thames estuary biennial festival, the aim of which is to celebrate the outstanding cultural contribution of the 40-mile stretch of the iconic Thames estuary. Aren’t we Members lucky to be here in this wonderful place, enjoying all that the beautiful River Thames can offer?

“Working with partners on both the north and south banks, the festival will occur biennially, with the first event due to take place in September this year. It will promote the planned new museum of the Thames estuary on the banks of the estuary in Southend, where—similar to Leicester—we found a Saxon buried beneath one of our parks.”