Opening burst of events from Coastal Currents

Coastal Currents, the annual late summer arts festival, is upon us, bringing a diversity of entertaining and stimulating events and cultural offerings celebrating our community and unique location. On this, its 25^th anniversary, the festival has been reinvigorated by funding from the Arts Council. Nick Terdre outlines what lies in store during the first few days.

With a month’s programme of events stretching across the region, Coastal Currents promises something for everyone, from workshops and participatory events to live outdoor performance and exhibitions, says director Tina Morris.

While centred on Hastings, the festival’s reach extends over a vast area, from Romney Marshes in the east to Eastbourne in the west and Robertsbridge in the north.

While some offerings are already under way, Coastal Currents officially kicks off on Friday 30 August with an opening event at the White Rock Theatre basement studio space – see HOT’s write-up. Here the evening’s entertainment includes live projection mappist Dhona, poet Debra Watson, Lily Kim of Message from the Ravens, Zoe the Trumpeter and young band Poppy Rockett.

Another early highlight is the West Street Weekender on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September curated by artist Megan Donfrancesco Reddy, celebrating the unique quirky industrial vibe of this artist-filled side street in Hastings Old Town.

On Saturday at 2pm there will be a live street performance by Bristol-based contemporary  dance troupe Trash Dollys, with a cast drawn from members of the public who have attended a seven-day training workshop to rehearse the performance.

On Sunday 1 September at 8pm Daria Fisher, Russian performance artist, will create a suspended performance called Selsyn Flow. Daria is a versatile live performer, violinist and sound producer who continuously explores innovative intersections within music, including the connection between the gravity of the body and music.

The festival’s first weekend includes the launch of the Open Studios programme, for which see separate article. But West Street Weekender boasts its own Open Studios, with 10 artists exhibiting in three locations from 11am to 5pm on both days.

Launching on Thursday 5 and running to Sunday 8 September, the Observer Building will host COLLAPSE, a sideways glance at a post collapse world that might only be a few steps away. This exhibition emerges as a poignant testament to a natural world under pressure and a deteriorating material world.

The work of the 10 artists exhibiting in COLLAPSE utilises found materials and repurposed debris reflecting both the resourcefulness and necessity of the times. Forms are raw and fractured, dislocated and exaggerated, capturing a sense of deconstruction and reconstruction, providing a visceral narrative of transformation.

COLLAPSE is curated by artists Sharon Wylde and Rowan Corkill, who are also responsible for SHOW OFF, a perambulatory exhibition of posters dotted around Hastings that celebrate the diverse work of the region’s artists.

Popping up around town over the duration of the festival, this work will be found in unusual urban spaces and everyday environments. Each poster has been contributed by artists who believe that placing art in the public realm is crucial, ensuring that everyone can experience and enjoy the vibrant art of their region.

Funding restored

Having survived 2023 without external support, renewed funding from Arts Council England (ACE) has ensured a more cohesive and vibrant festival for 2024, says Tina. “We are very grateful to the Arts Council England and to our advertisers and sponsors for their continual support – 2023 was extremely tough without funding, and proved unsustainable. It is crucial that the area maintains its high-quality arts offer as it is so clearly tied into our visitor economy.

“The festival supports a great many artists’ and musicians’ incomes, whilst providing promotion and commissioning opportunities; it attracts high footfall and visitors as well as assisting in maintaining our arts profile nationally.”

Ace funding for Coastal Currents is shared with Audiotrope, whose mission is to provide opportunities for budding young musicians. A series of workshops running until the end of September is already under way, to help 16 to 25 year-olds on aspects such as song-writing and developing their vocal skills.

They are also offering studio sessions including a video recording with all costs covered for bands and musicians under 25 from East Sussex. A few slots are still available and nominations are invited here.

And on Sunday 1 and Sunday 8 September Audiotrope has organised open mic nights at Tin Tin’s bar in Robertson Street for 18 to 25-year-olds, with cash prizes of £75 and £50 for the best contributions.

“Providing new free opportunities for young people, career development and step-change is at the heart of the Coastal Currents programme this year,” says Tina.

“We are really grateful that we can help facilitate high-quality community projects with local artists and musicians producing free accessible public art to lift everyone’s spirits. We know how important the arts are to our happiness, connectedness and wellbeing. So in that spirit, go visit the Open Studios, attend events and help us to show how much creativity means to our community, which in turn will help us support artists through footfall, purchases, audiences, commissions and digital presence.

”Helping keep this festival going requires you all to do your bit and attend all these free events. That’s all!”

Download the Coastal Currents brochure here and sign up to the mailing list here. Instagram here.

 

 

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