Our upcoming events
THE BARN ON THE GREEN - Ditchling
Sussex Contemporary Presents:
The Barn on The Green
IN DITCHLING
Ditchling has a special place in our hearts here at Sussex Contemporary. In 2023, Jo became a Trustee Director at the Ditching Museum of Art + Craft, and in March 2025, she became Chair after sitting as interim for 6 months.
We were overjoyed with last year’s venue in Ditchling, which had over 2000 visitors over the two weekends we hosted in the beautiful and historic barn on the green.
As with our other Arts Festival shows, we continue to present artists and makers from various disciplines over two weekends.
Jo has curated both weekends and is delighted to invite you to visit us.
WEEKEND ONE: 17/18 May 2024 11 am — 5 pm
Jubal Prevette Carpenter, wood turner, wood worker.
Sally Hubbard Pottery and basketry.
Deb M John Potter, gardener, beekeeper.
Amy Frankie Smith Handmade porcelain lights and paintings.
Rowena Park Working with clear acrylic, transparent colours and gold leaf to create modern colourful handmade acrylic jewellery.
Anna Prizzy Designer and printmaker based in West Sussex
Working on versatile creative projects exploring texture, shape and colour.
Phoebe Kirk Surface pattern designer. Freelance illustrator.
Francesca Bray Paintings | Printmaking | Textiles Inspired by wild places, motherhood, Flora & Fauna prints
WEEKEND TWO: 24/25 May 2024 11 am —5 pm
Jubal Prevette Carpenter, wood turner, wood worker.
Liz Padgham-Major ‘The Accidental Stitcher’
Hand embroidered wearable & wall art sustainably made with a narrative of nature & symbols.
Pippa Honess Ceramic artist in West Sussex specialising in smoke firing
HANNAH ISSI Beautiful Organic Cotton Homeware, Fabrics & Accessories
Lynn Hanford-Day Heart centred inspirational coach, sacred geometry artist.
Danni Beach Small batch, sometimes spiky, ceramics.
Cellan Maker and creator. Mostly focused on ceramics right now.
GPTD season 5
Ruth Mullan Stained Glass Artist based in Sussex, Commissions ~
Designer ~ Maker ~ Workshops.
Rowena Park Working with clear acrylic, transparent colours and gold leaf to create modern colourful handmade acrylic jewellery.
Pagette Silver Jewellery Handmade in the UK, inspired by the forest & ocean.
Anna Prizzy Designer and printmaker based in West Sussex
Working on versatile creative projects exploring texture, shape and colour.
The Land We Live Within
DITCHLING
We return to Ditchling Barn for ArtWave 2025, extending it outwards with a hardstanding, temporary exhibition space. Jo has been developing innovative pop-up gallery walling to bring the Sussex Contemporary experience to this village of global creative importance.
Nestled in the heart of the South Downs, next to the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft. The Barn is central to village life and community; we are delighted to return for a second time in 2025, showcasing a new and innovative way of using this historic space.
RESPONSE
A single size for all entries, created onto a supplied A5 canvas-covered board. All mediums have been welcomed and encouraged to participate.
The Land We Live Within asked the artists to respond to the way they live within the landscapes we occupy in this moment of time.
ARTWAVE
Community With Creativity Since 1993
Artwave is the annual festival of artists and makers in the Lewes District. Hundreds of creatives exhibit yearly in Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven, and the surrounding villages.
The event allows art lovers to discover new work, meet artists and makers, and buy directly from them. In 2024, an estimated 53,000+ people visited Artwave over the three weeks of the festival.
As part of the Rural Trail, the Barn is hosting two presentations: The Pond House, which had previously shown in Isfield, and The Land We Live Within.
THE SUSSEX 2025
8/9/13/14/15/16/20/21/22/23 November 2025 - Exhibition open to the public.
more info coming soooooooonnn (ish)
MEANDER: Land + Water
MEANDER: Land + Water
Come and see this exciting new exhibition format in NEWHAVEN this MARCH
Our Creative Director, Jo Myles, felt we had a space in our schedule of exhibitions for a democratic exhibition open-call that responds to the theme MEANDER: Land + Water.
Entries opened in November 2024, and we have been blown away by the response from Sussex-linked artists who have responded to be part of this exciting project.
Democratic means artists and makers secure their automatic place in the exhibition without a selection panel, judges, or prizes. Jo will curate the works on site, believing that a well-curated exhibition in a beautiful space allows any work to sing and shine collectively.
All works are for sale, with 70% of the sale price going directly to the artist.
We aim to present the biggest exhibition of Sussex-linked artists and makers possible in one beautifully curated exhibition. We can't wait to receive the work and get hanging!
We return to the beautiful BN9 STUDIO this March, managed by the ever-brilliant @creativenewhaven
Open to the public:
1st 2nd 7th 8th 9th 14th 15th March 2025 10 am - 4 pm
BN9 STUDIO, Marine Workshops, Newhaven, BN9 OER
Newhaven Christmas Fair
IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME…
We can’t wait for you to join us at our first-ever Sussex Contemporary Christmas Fair.
Jo has been running makers markets for several years over at Flo Road Market in Brighton and she’s bringing her trusty troop of talented makers, craftspeople, and artists to Newhaven this December.
Make your money count by buying directly from the person who made the beautiful gifts with their hands. Support small creatives and make your gifting really meaningful this Christmas.
SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2024
10am - 5pm
FREE ENTRY - FREE PARKING - FABULOUS MAKERS
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
Heidi Westgate
Sussex Ceramics Fair
Join us for an amazing pop-up celebrating the talented ceramicists based in Sussex
The Sussex 2024
The Sussex Contemporary Exhibition 2024 opens to the public on Saturday 12th October and runs on selected days only during October.
Newhaven Artwave Fair
Join us for the most exciting and newest po-up Artwave venue of 2024
Artwave 2nd Weekend
We are back at Plumpton Racecourse with the largest venue in the Artwave Festival for a second weekend. Free parking, train station, bar and food. Plus around 40 Sussex artists and makers with some amazing work to view and purchase.
Artwave 1st Weekend
We are back at Plumpton Racecourse with the largest venue in the Artwave Festival: free parking, a train station, bar, and food.
30 Sussex artists and makers with some amazing work to view and purchase from
Lewes Textiles Fair
Our Creative Director Jo has curated a wonderful collection of artists and makers who use textiles in their work
Newhaven Artists & Makers Market
Our second market as part of Newhaven’s Look Again Supergraphics Festival. This curated event will showcase artists and makers that specifically use typography, illustrative techniques and graphics in their work.
Newhaven Food Market
A curated food market in Newhaven between 9am - Noon on Saturday 28th June