About
The 10th Coastal Currents arts festival
29 August – 30 September 2009
Hastings, Rye and Bexhill-on-Sea
2009 marks the 10th anniversary of Coastal Currents and this year’s festival focuses on contemporary visual arts and moving image work from artists in Hastings, the South East region and mainland Europe. The festival’s theme, ‘Hidden Hastings’ aims to peel back the layers of creativity and unique spaces in the town to make hidden Hastings visible and dynamic.
Coastal Currents 2009 promises to be an exciting and accessible event for both residents and visitors to the area with a wide range of free events including film, performances, music, talks, guided walks and workshops. There are also events designed for specialists – a programme of talks and presentations by artists and curators from the South East and London while a screening of artists’ short films will feature work from emerging and well established artists.
Artists will be creating temporary projects across diverse locations in Hastings – St Andrew’s Market, several cafés and empty shops. Hastings Borough Council is committed to supporting creative businesses and helping to revitalise the town centre through the Retail Vitality project and their collaboration with the Government’s Meanwhile project.
The urban and coastal landscape will become a location for other artists’ projects, helping to bring contemporary art to the communities and encourage debate while at the same time enhancing the built environment. This focus on contemporary art is particularly important in the run-up to the Jerwood Gallery.
Although Coastal Currents is an initiative of Hastings Borough Council, this year’s festival is an artists-led project. It is the quality and innovation of the artists’ work combined with their energy and commitment which ensures the success of Coastal Currents 2009.
Coastal Currents is managed by Creative Coast and Christine Gist on behalf of Hastings Borough Council.
Hastings Borough Council and Creative Coast cannot be held responsible for accident or injury at events and activities organised by external individuals and groups, during Coastal Currents 2009.
All images on this website are © the artists and organisers. The background image (and the cover image of the official 2009 brochure) is ‘Pushing the Boat Out’ © Judith Alder
About Creative Coast
Creative Coast was formed in 2009 by Hastings artists Lorna Crabbe and Sarah Yates, to coordinate arts projects throughout Hastings and the South East. Their first large-scale project is coordinating & managing Coastal Currents festival 2009.
Creative Coast aims to create and support innovative local arts projects that question, inspire, challenge and engage. Creative Coast’s weekly e-bulletin (developed from the former Artwatchnews) details opportunities, exhibitions, projects and events throughout the region and beyond. Through talks, events and arts projects, we aim to promote understanding, discussion and interrogation of the arts. To sign up or submit a listing email: creativecoastmail@gmail.com
CC HQ is based at 17 West Street (between George Street & the seafront) Old Town, Hastings TN34 3AN. We aim to be open every day throughout the festival. Do bear with us, as we’ll also be dashing around coordinating events. Feel free to pop by if you have any questions, to pick up additional brochures, or simply to say ‘hello’.
Visit Creative Coast at www.thecreativecoast.co.uk
About Wave
wave (www.wave.coop) is a graphic design co-operative, specialising in print and web design for charities, social enterprises, public sector and arts organisations. Based in the Creative Media Centre in Hastings, our client list includes both local and national organisations. With over 20 years experience we are flexible, challenging, highly creative and work in an open and ethical way. To find out more about wave and how we can help you, contact Nadiya Rayan (nadiya@wave.coop) or Felix Lozano (felix@wave.coop).
