Audience enjoying a concert in Tattershall in June 2010 © James Laws

The rural district of East Lindsey is located in the county of Lincolnshire. Covering an immense area of 175,392 hectares (700 square miles), it is the second largest district in England. East Lindsey encompasses large rural areas and the popular coastal areas of Mablethorpe and Skegness. The District Council established an Arts Development team in 2000 in recognition of the needs of the existing and potential arts sector in East Lindsey.

The Orchestral Residency was initiated in 2001 by East Lindsey District Council and Orchestras Live in response to an identified need to support access to classical music both for existing (but isolated) and new audiences. The success of the initial three-year residency led to widespread desire from both the District Council and residents to see the project continue into a second phase of a further three years from 2005-2007.

The LMP recently entered into the third phase of this residency, which started with a concert tour in June 2008 and continued with another in November. This sees the orchestra consolidating its work in the area as well as focusing on the deprived coastal strip of the district, visiting Sure Start centres, the Marisco Medical Centre and local community venues such as libraries to bring live music to as many people as possible in unexpected places.