Celebrating - Supporting - Promoting Sussex-Linked Artists
Our goal is simple. We celebrate, support, and promote contemporary Sussex artists and provide opportunities for them to show their work.
Our annual exhibition - The Sussex - is probably the largest showcase of art from living Sussex artists in the world. It attracts thousands of visitors and is open to artists at any stage of their career, including amateurs.
We also provide workshops and talks called the Business of Art that support artists and help them be more commercially successful.
A new democratic open call has been added to our annual program of exhibitions for 2025. This inclusive concept fits into the two existing showcase opportunities we host during Artists Open Houses in Ditchling in May and Artwave in Lewes in September.
The Sussex 2025
Sussex has a rich creative heritage. Be part of it!
ART EXHIBITION
The Sussex 2025 will be the fourth year of our annual major showcase of Sussex-linked artists and makers.
2024 saw us move to a new venue and a larger exhibition space along the Sussex coast in Newhaven.
Delivering this prominent annual open call across the county is a key part of our strategy.
LOCATION
In November 2025 we head back to Newhaven and The Marine Workshops in Railway Quay. This stunning building was initially constructed in 1882 to house several engineering workshops and was used to repair train and ship engines.
We will reside on the top floor with the 2025 exhibition during November 2025.
OPEN CALL
We invite artists linked to Sussex to submit work in any media for consideration by our judges for inclusion in this year’s major exhibition, THE SUSSEX 2025.
Artists can be full-time, part-time, amateur, or professional but must either have been born in Sussex, educated here or have or do live/work in the county.
The open call closed on 31st August 2025.
THEME
The theme for THE SUSSEX 2025 is
L'art de la vie quotidienne: art of everyday life
Artworks can be created in various mediums, including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and illustration.
Artwork must be original work created by you, the artist.
COMMUNITY
In 2025, we are planning several community events, projects, and creative opportunities that will surround the exhibition.
The Business of Art will move to Newhaven for the month, and we are building on the pop-up fairs and markets we produced in 2024.
JUDGES
Each year, we have a panel of independent and expert judges who have the unenviable task of choosing which Sussex local artists will be featured and who will win the art prizes.
Judges to be announced in January 2025.
THE SUSSEX 2025
MEANDER: Land + Water
THE BARN ON THE GREEN AOH in Ditchling
BN9 Arts Space Newhaven
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OPEN CALL
THE SUSSEX 2025 opens for submissions on the 16th of December 2024.
The 2025 theme will be announced on the 16th of December.
We welcome applications using all mediums made by Sussex-linked artists at any stage of their career. The hang is chosen by a selection panel of leading experts who judge the entries on merit alone.
The Sussex 2024 is an art exhibition that is made up entirely of Sussex-linked artists. The criteria for entry is that artists must have either:
Been educated in Sussex
Have or do live or work in Sussex
Been born in Sussex
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INSPIRATION
The rolling Downs and breathtaking coastline have inspired artists for centuries, including some of the most celebrated artists that ever lived. Picasso, Miró, Man Ray, Moore, Constable, Turner, Burra, Grant, Bell, Beardsley, Ravilious, Nash, and Grayson Perry all have links with Sussex
Sussex continues to provide inspiration and a home to some amazing emerging talent, and we wanted to create a new addition to the art calendar that specifically showcases the amazing talent the county has.
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NEWHAVEN
The Sussex 2025 will be housed in the BN9 Arts Space within The Marine Workshops in Newhaven. Taking residence on the top floor of the workshops gives us stunning panoramic views across both the land and sea.
We are incredibly passionate about supporting Newhaven, and keen to assist in maintaining the momentum that Newhaven Enterprise Zone and Creative Newhaven have delivered to date.
In 2023 the Newhaven programme of arts events helped attract more than 120,000 visitors to the town.
There are plans for several satellite events and workshops to be held around the duration of the 2025 exhibition.
Our Instagram
THE SUSSEX
The Sussex is an annual exhibition that is made up entirely of Sussex artists and the criteria for entry is that artists must have either:
Been born in Sussex
Been educated in Sussex
Currently, or have lived or worked in Sussex
Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to choose who wins The People’s Choice Prize 2025 worth £750 and sponsored by Whitespace.