Pearls of the Sea
Our flagship schools programme
A gallery on the beach
Our unique relationship with the sea informs all that we do. We sit directly on Hastings’ historic fishing beach, alongside Europe’s oldest beach-launched fishing fleet, where changes to our seas are witnessed every day.
We are a coastal gallery with a bold mission. Our artistic programme is anchored in ocean futures and sustainability, bringing together artists, scientists, fishermen and local communities to explore new creative frontiers and the defining challenges of our time.
Art for a changing world
Guided by the heritage, landscape and communities that define Hastings, we are creating a cultural programme that explores the many ways that artists engage with the sea. From contemporary commissions to historic works, we exhibit art from around the world and across all periods and media.
Our artistic programme is enriched by vibrant public, learning, and engagement strands that weave together creative activities, talks, lates, open-air classrooms, skills development, and artistic production.
Coastal communities like ours are on the front line of the climate emergency. We aim to spark new ways of thinking, creating, communicating and understanding, to inspire bold, imaginative visions for the future of our oceans.
Ocean futures in practice
The Sun Feeds the Wind
Preserving the stories of the Hastings Fishing Fleet
Art for Your Oceans
New works in seaweed ink
Isabel Rock
Things Fall Apart, The Centre Cannot Hold
Miguel Rothschild
Undercurrents
Meet the Fleet
Skills and stories from the Hastings fishing community
Partnerships beyond the gallery
Addressing the future of our oceans requires collaboration.
Our new Marine Arts Lab will sit at the heart of this work, bringing together artists, marine biologists, conservationists, and local communities, to create a dynamic space for interdisciplinary exchange.
Our Mobile Studio extends our approach beyond the gallery walls. It is our travelling learning programme, offering workshops and creative experiences throughout the town and wider region.
Together, these projects reflect our ambition to reimagine what a gallery by the sea can be: a place where art, climate and community meet.
Be part of it
Our ocean futures programme continues to grow through ambitious exhibitions, partnerships, and new ways of working. We are looking for partners who share our belief in the power of art to respond to the challenges facing our oceans.
Get in touch with Leah Swain, Head of Development, at leahswain@hastingscontemporary.org
Art, climate and community
