Littlehampton Arts Week chalks up partnership success

CREATIVITY and commerce combined so well during Littlehampton Arts Week last week, that the temporary galleries set up in some of the venues are to enjoy an extended run.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Aug 2013, 13:00 BST
Being creative at the Chalk on the Prom event, with artists of all ages PHOTO: Stephen Goodger L31581H13Being creative at the Chalk on the Prom event, with artists of all ages PHOTO: Stephen Goodger L31581H13
Being creative at the Chalk on the Prom event, with artists of all ages PHOTO: Stephen Goodger L31581H13

The partnership between traders and artists was such a success that organisers plan to build on it for next year’s event.

Unlike Arundel Festival’s Gallery Trail, and Open House events in Brighton and Worthing, where art works are displayed mainly in private houses, the Arts Trail at the heart of Littlehampton’s programme was based mostly in shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses, as well as in the museum, Look & Sea Centre and Arun Civic Centre.

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“One of the main aims of the Arts Trail was to encourage visitors to explore Littlehampton and get to know the town and its traders better,” explained Staci Mendoza, of the Littlehampton Organisation of Contemporary Arts (LOCA), which staged the Arts Week with support from Arun District and Littlehampton Town councils, Sussex Police and design house Loosemarbles.

“Having the trail in businesses gives people a different perception of what Littlehampton is about and the feedback from traders has been very positive, that people have been coming onto their premises to see the art, and they have enjoyed that.

“Some of our artists have been asked by traders to leave their art work up in some of the locations beyond the week,” she added.

Dozens of artists displayed work including paintings, drawings, photography, multi-media work and textiles in 25 venues on the trail, stretching from Littlehampton Marina in the west to Mewsbrook Park in the east, and visiting the town centre, river and seafront along the way.

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And as well as the trail, special events held through the week, which finished on Saturday, were generally well-attended.

They included Chalk on the Prom on Thursday afternoon (July 25), when professional artists were joined by enthusiast amateurs of all ages to draw their own pictures on the Tarmac.

Staci thanked the councils, artist, musicians taking part, the traders Littlehampton Town Team and everyone else involved in making it a success.

“The whole thing came together really well and was supported by the whole community,” she said.

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