Empty shops in Eastbourne to be given facelifts

Debenhams in Terminus Road is the first building to benefit from the efforts of those involved in Full Frontal: Back to Nature, which is being described as an exciting new project for Eastbourne and will be a curated and themed exhibition of artworks to be shown in the town centre on the front of empty shop windows

The artworks are being produced as large-scale vinyl window displays to be viewed from the street and the project has been created to support Eastbourne’s town centre recovery during the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

A spokesperson for the exhibition said, “For the project, artists from Eastbourne and surrounding areas were invited to submit artworks. They were asked to consider the significance of the natural world to human life, health and well-being and look at beliefs, superstitions, folklore and magic that have always been associated with sickness, healing and nature: natural remedies and quack cures, elixirs and potions, the miracles and monsters of medicine, as well as the benefits of getting back to nature, engaging with wildlife and the landscape.

“Following the call out to artists to take part in the project there was a wonderful response with 162 submissions received from artists working in Eastbourne and the surrounding areas from Newhaven to Hastings.Eleven artists have been selected to show their work. The eleven artists will each receive a fee for their work. Many of the artists have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and an important part of the project is to support the artists and the wealth of creative talent in the area.”

The 11 artists are Jennifer Binnie, Rowan Corkill, Elizabeth Doak, Jim Hobbs, Hoop Editions, Nicholas Pace, Angel Rose, Shinewater School, Isobel Smith, Nick Snelling and Jason Williams.

The project has been developed by Eastbourne Culture Group in partnership with the council and Towner Eastbourne with the aim of reinvigorating the High Street by creating a more attractive streetscape for shopper and visitors and making the area feel safer and less run down, by bringing back a sense of life to disused shops.”