Nina Cosford.

Artists rally round for HIP fundraiser

Hastings Independent Press, now in its 14^th edition after launching in February, is staging a fund-raising auction of local art on Tuesday at The Crown pub on All Saints Street. HOT’s Nick Terdre reports.

This has been an auspicious year for community media, with the arrival of both  Hastings Independent Press and the independent music magazine The Stinger alongside Hastings Online Times. Hastings Independent Press is noted for its lively coverage of the town’s big celebrations such as Jack in the Green and Pirates Day, its robust comment on local issues such as the threat to cut bus services, its local arts coverage and food and drink columns.

Rob Sample.

From the beginning the paper has made a point of opening its pages to those with something to say or wanting to get involved, with gratifying results. “The response from the community has been great, we get a lot of feedback and a lot of help in terms of people helping write, edit, distribute, contribute story ideas and photographs and so on,” content coordinator Cathy Relf tells HOT.

“We have more volunteers turn up each week to our news meetings, and though it’s been a steep learning curve in a lot of ways – content planning and management, managing finances, paying for software, bills and print runs – we’re getting better and better.

“We’re now eight months in, and though it’s not exactly a slick and smooth operation yet, it’s getting there – and most importantly it’s a lot of fun and is providing opportunities to all kinds of people in the local community to get involved.

Drew Copus.

“A few weeks ago our whole 10,000 copies went missing en route from the printer to us, and although they reprinted our papers they were five days late as a result – and lots of people were asking where their Hastings Independent was. Much though it was annoying and stressful to have our papers go missing, it was nice to be missed!”

But running a 20-page fortnightly printed paper doesn’t come cheap, and finding the finance has been one of the tougher tasks. However, the good relations the paper has built with the local artistic community have enabled it to put together an impressive fundraiser in the form on an art auction to be held on Tuesday 23rd. The event has been organised by its arts editor, Kate Renwick.

Adam Dando.

More than 40 works have been contributed by more than 20 local, national and international artists, including: Sophie Barnard, Luke Brabants, Angela Braven, Drew Copus, Nina Cosford, Oliver Crowther, Adam Dando, Leigh Dyer, Ben Fenton, Miranda Gavin, Ali Graham, Beck Hogg, Richard Hogg, Lucy Jerwood, Morgan O’Brien, Rachel Pickles, Robin Renwick, Nick Rowling, Robert Sample, Susan Taylor, Launa Vahey and Kim Wan.

Now it’s up to us to turn up and show our support for Hastings Independent and our community media!

Art Auction for Hastings Independent Press Tuesday 23 September at 7.30pm. The Crown, 64-66 All Saints’ St, Hastings TN34 3BN.

Hastings Independent Press website.

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