Boats Ashore, Jean Field.

Art show at Southwater Area Community Centre

The Southwater Area Community Centre in St Leonards-on-Sea is putting on an art exhibition as part of this year’s Coastal Currents Festival, featuring a wide range of works by local artists who otherwise find little opportunity to show their work. Nick Terdre reports.

“The show is a community-based exhibition and will feature around 25 different artists of all ages and walks of life, from children to pensioners, and amateurs to professionals,” says Nick Hill, a trustee of the Southwater Area Community Centre and its arts coordinator. Works in a wide range of media will be on show, including painting, stencil work, embroidery, photography and more, he says.

Owl & Khat, by Sheryl Hall.

Nick, who has been putting on one or two shows a year at the centre opposite St Leonards Warrior Square station for the last 13 years, takes care to include works from people who may not otherwise have the confidence or opportunity to show their works. A certificate to mark their participation is awarded to children and young people.

This year’s show will run from 31st August to 18th September 2021, from 10am to 4pm daily. The works are displayed in various rooms around the building, some of which at times may not be available for viewing if in use by one of the centre’s hirers. Appointments to view the show can also be made. Some of the items exhibited will be on sale.

Private view

From 6 to 9pm on  Friday 3 September there will be a private view which will be attended by the Mayor, Cllr James Bacon, and local  MP Sally-Ann Hart. Yair Katz, who holds sessions at the centre, will provide live music and refreshments will be available. The newly appointed Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Andrew Blackman, will also visit the show.

Due to the Covid pandemic there was no show last year and the centre had to close its doors for a time, taking advantage of the enforced shutdown to improve its facilities. It is now functioning normally again, with a range of anti Covid measures in place, and serving a wide range of groups and activities, including language classes, support groups for alcoholics, underearners and others, faith groups, arts classes and therapies.

Southwater Area Community Centre Summer Show, Southwater Area Community Centre, 1-2 Stainsby Street, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6LA. Tuesday 31 August-Saturday 18 September, 10am-4pm, or by appointment.

Contact Nick Hill on 07984 732716 or the community centre on 01424 461414 or by email.

Mountain View, by Stephen Tibbs.

NMB, by Chappers.

Jim Hawkins in the Apple Barrel, by Nick Hill.

The writer is also a trustee of the community centre.

Also in: Arts News