A new public art trail is coming to Newhaven and you have the chance to join a community walkabout.
Hospitable Environment, a community arts organisation, is inviting everyone to a free evening walk along the ‘Following Ravilious’ public art trail. This will see giant billboards popping up around Newhaven this summer which celebrate the paintings of the town by Eric Ravilious.
‘Following Ravilious’ is a free public art trail of giant billboards, placed around Newhaven from 1 August to 29 October.
The walk will start at 6.30pm on Thursday 10 August at The Sidings, on Newhaven’s Railway Approach, and take visitors around the four ‘Following Ravilious’ billboard locations which feature works by Ravilious alongside responses to the modern Newhaven landscape by contemporary artists Jo Lamb, Charlie Prodger, Mark Titchner, and Emily Allchurch.
The project highlights how Newhaven continues to inspire artists living and working today, nearly 100 years on from Ravilious’ time. After the walk there will be snacks to share, and the chance to enjoy a sociable game of pétanque on the West Quay and to get a drink at The Hope Inn (a one-time haunt of Ravilious himself!). There is no need to pre book and everyone is invited.
This event is one of many hosted by Hospitable Environment that bring local people together through food and creativity to explore what it takes to build connected, resilient and sustainable communities. Their signature ‘Soup & Social’ evenings – a shared meal and community conversation, always free to attend and open to all – have been running regularly at Newhaven’s Hillcrest Centre for the past 18 months, and they have installed their cob-built bread oven at the centre too.
Bring the whole family and join them on 29 July, 2-6pm, for Lammas – a free summer festival celebrating food, harvest and community. Or come along to their Artwave open studio, followed by a special Soup & Social on 16 September. Stay up to date with their programme at hospitable-environment.com
Their events are made possible by the generosity of funders which this year include grants from the Newhaven Arts Growth Fund, Sussex Community Development Association, and a partnership with Co-Lab at the University of Sussex where the organisation has taken part in an artist residency in creative placemaking.
The Newhaven Arts Growth Fund, which is now in its second year of funding from the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, has awarded grants to five grassroots arts projects this year, demonstrating the commitment to fostering arts and culture in and around the town. Enjoy the free Following Ravilious public art trail anytime from August to October, and discover more about the trail at newhavenenterprisezone.com/ravilious
Following Ravilious – a free community walkabout
Thursday 10 August
Meet at the Sidings 6.30pm. Railway Approach, Newhaven, BN9 0DF, East Sussex.
End 9pm on the green opposite The Hope Inn, West Quay, Newhaven BN9 9DN.
For any queries or access requirements, please email hello@hospitable-environment.com
