Farley Arts Trust showcases largest ever exhibition of young East Sussex talent at Lee Miller Gallery

The Farley Arts Trust has officially announced the launch of its eleventh biennial Farley Arts Awards & Exhibition, marking a major milestone in the organisation’s 22-year history. This year’s exhibition will showcase a record-breaking collection of over 70 artworks by emerging young artists, all of which will be displayed publicly at Farleys House & Gallery from 2pm on 15th November.

In a significant departure from previous years, the Trust has decided for the first time to include every single artwork selected and submitted by teachers. The pieces represent the work of GCSE, A-Level, and for the first time, Post-16 Level 3 Creative & Applied Pathways students. A total of 19 state schools, colleges, and academies across East Sussex are participating in the 2026 event.

To accommodate this unprecedented volume of art, as well as the large number of young artists, families, and educators expected to attend the Awards event in November, Farleys House & Gallery has generously provided the Trust with its more spacious Lee Miller Gallery.

"We have once again been greatly impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness and wide-ranging skills demonstrated by these young people," said Griselda Bear, Chair of the Farley Arts Trust. "We warmly thank all who have contributed to this biennial project and hope visitors to the exhibition enjoy the outcome which provides such striking evidence of creativity of mind, and in the use of media and materials, displayed by these student artists."

Every piece submitted to the exhibition is illustrated in the official event catalogue, accompanied by a short statement written by the student about their work.

In addition to the standard category prizes regularly funded by local companies and organisations, the 2026 exhibition features three prestigious special awards:

• The Surrealist Award: Granted to one or two artworks to be placed on public view at Farleys House for two seasons.

• The Sylvia Tidy Award: Awarded to a student displaying a clear awareness of issues of great personal or community concern.

• The Free Painters and Sculptors Award: New for 2026, this will be given to a student demonstrating a highly individual approach to how they conceive and execute their work.

Antony Penrose, Founding Trustee and son of leading surrealist artists Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, emphasised the vital cultural importance of supporting young creators in today’s educational landscape;

"Although the value of all art forms is often marginalised and underrated, the talent of the students tells us that the visual arts are still a vital force in our society," Penrose stated. "My personal message to our young exhibitors is please don’t stop making art, we need you now more than ever to provoke our thinking and stimulate our lives.”

The exhibition and its associated community outreach are made possible through the voluntary work of the Trustees, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and critical grant funding from organisations including The Chalk Cliff Trust and The Band Trust, alongside the staff of Farleys House & Gallery Ltd.

The exhibition is free to enter and open to the public from 15th November 2-4pm at the Lee Miller Gallery, Farleys House & Gallery, Muddles Green, Chiddinglye, BN8 6HW 

About the Farley Arts Trust

Rooted in the unique surrealist legacy of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, the Farley Arts Trust was established over twenty years ago to inspire and engage young people in the visual arts and bring them and their art works together through collaborative exhibitions and activities.  Every year the Trust offers opportunities for East Sussex based young people that are designed to introduce them to the world of visual arts beyond the classroom.