Hastings Contemporary (formerly the Jerwood Gallery) is a contemporary art gallery on The State in Hastings’ Old Town. It opened in March 2012 with a permanent art collection of works by leading contemporary British artists but the gallery is now focused primarily on hosting a programme of temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.
There was significant public opposition to the gallery before it was constructed with many opponents stating that it would destroy the character of the local area. However, it is a fairly low-key structure that is clad with glossy black tiles that mimic the style of the nearby black timber ‘net shops’ and it is certainly a much more attractive building than the coach park that it replaced.
A dispute with the gallery’s main stakeholder, the Jerwood Foundation, means that the art museum has recently rebranded itself as Hastings Contemporary (it was formerly called the Jerwood Gallery) with a greater focus on hosting a programme of temporary exhibitions.
![The Jerwood Gallery on The Stade in the Old Town in Hastings, East Sussex. (Photo: John Lord [CC BY 2.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/jerwood-gallery-hastings-flickr.jpg)
What to see at Hastings Contemporary
Prior to rebranding as Hastings Contemporary, the gallery was anchored by a permanent collection that included works by many leading British contemporary artists. The gallery is now primarily focused on hosting a programme of temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary (mostly) British art.
Current and planned temporary exhibitions include:
Pearls of the Sea: Landing Places
This exhibition (until 1 June 2025) features work by 470 students from eight local schools, inspired by Hastings’ maritime heritage. Using oral histories, foraged objects and a range of artistic media, students have created collaborative pieces exploring the town’s fishing traditions. The display includes a video installation of sea shanties performed at The White Rock Theatre, printed poetry banners and an animated film about the fishing fleet. The exhibition marks the culmination of a year-long schools programme led by Hastings Contemporary.
The Sun Feeds the Wind
The Sun Feeds the Wind (until 14 September 2025) explores the histories of the Hastings fishing community. Developed with the Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society, it highlights the skills and traditions of the fleet. A central oral history archive, curated by the society and artist Mary Hooper, forms the basis of a soundscape. Designed by Jane Bruce, the installation also includes films, a mural and craftsmanship from the fishing community. The project aims to document and share these histories for future generations.
Undersea
Undersea (until 14 September 2025) explores marine life, myths and the sea’s influence on art across different cultures and time periods. It features paintings, prints, drawings and objects from five continents, spanning four centuries. The display includes depictions of marine creatures, underwater landscapes and mythological figures such as mermaids. Highlights range from an 18th-century sea-encrusted sculpture to works by Paul Delvaux, Damien Hirst and Australian Aboriginal artists. Undersea completes a trilogy of exhibitions curated by art historian James Russell.
Visiting Hastings Contemporary
Hastings Contemporary is on Rock-A-Nore Road near The Stade in the Old Town area of Hastings. It is close to the net shops, Hastings’ unique fishermen’s storage sheds, and it is just a short walk to other points of interest in the Old Town including the Blue Reef Aquarium, the Fishermen’s Museum and the Shipwreck Museum.
Unique among major art museums, Hastings Contemporary is not air-conditioned. Precise climate control is less of an issue with galleries focusing on contemporary art and the lack for air-conditioning means that the interior of the gallery is more closely connected with its immediate environs. Fortunately, the mild climate of the south coast means that the lack of air-conditioning is only an issue for most visitors just a couple of days each year.
The admission charge is rather high considering the size of the gallery and the fact that many free galleries offer a much more impressive permanent collection. Entry is half price with the National Art Pass.
Webbe’s at Hastings Contemporary is the gallery’s own in-house cafe, which has a focus on seasonal ingredients including fresh locally-caught seafood. Prices are reasonable considering the standard of food and the seaside location. You can’t visit the cafe without first buying an entry ticket for the gallery but there is another branch of Webbe’s just across the road and there are plenty of pubs and fish and chips shops just a short walk away.
It is a relatively small gallery and a visit shouldn’t take much longer than an hour to so.
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