Hastings Contemporary

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.

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: The Sea and Me
This exhibition (until 2 June 2024) showcases artwork picked from submissions by 400 local children, featuring a variety of media with the overarching theme exploring the artist’s relationship with the sea.

Elias Sime: Eregata እርጋታ
Elias Sime: Eregata እርጋታ (until 8 September 2024) is Ethiopian artist Elias Sime’s inaugural major solo exhibition in Europe. The exhibition presents Sime’s work spanning the past decade, featuring over 20 pieces across various media, including large-scale abstract works, intricate ceramic installations and sculptural assemblages. Sime’s distinctive style involves repurposing everyday materials into thought-provoking art. The exhibition emphasises his use of “carefully selected everyday materials” and his skill in crafting “lyrical abstract compositions”.

Quentin Blake: A Hundred Portraits
The Quentin Blake: A Hundred Portraits exhibition (until 8 September 2024) showcases Quentin Blake’s talent for capturing character. This exclusive display features 100 unique portraits, all created by Quentin Blake himself. Ranging from large, detailed watercolours to charming, postcard-sized Biro sketches, the exhibition offers a glimpse into Blake’s creative process and his whimsical world.

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.