Hastings Contemporary

Over het museum

Hastings Contemporary opened to the public in March 2012 as the Jerwood Gallery, on the historic fishing beach in Hastings Old Town. The black building, covered in more than 8,000 tiles glazed in Kent, was designed by HAT Projects and won a RIBA National Award in 2013. Its arrival was controversial among some local people, who feared gentrification, and the local Bonfire Society once burned a model of it.

In 2019 the gallery separated from the Jerwood Foundation and was renamed Hastings Contemporary. In 2023 the foundation passed the head lease to Hastings Borough Council, which granted a 99-year lease to the Hastings Contemporary charitable trust. Today it is an independent arts charity funded by Arts Council England, Hastings Borough Council and donors.

The gallery shows changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary British art, with a programme built around ocean futures and sustainability. Sir Quentin Blake is its artist patron. A first-floor restaurant, a shop with work by local makers and a learning studio complete the building.

Hoogtepunten

• Prize-winning black-tiled building on the Stade by HAT Projects
• Changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary British art
• Programme on ocean futures and sustainability
• First-floor restaurant coquina with a sun terrace
• Family Days and the Dotty Trail for children

Opgericht

2012

Beheerder

Hastings Contemporary (independent arts charity)

Directie

Kathleen Soriano

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Tickets are booked online and are valid all day. The prices shown are without a voluntary donation; with a donation the adult ticket is 12.50 pounds and the reduced ticket 6.25 pounds. Members and patrons are admitted free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Step-free access, with a lift to both floors. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed (request when booking). Lightweight portable stools, large-print guides, ear defenders and sensory bags can be borrowed at the front desk. The gallery describes itself as dementia friendly. An accessible toilet is on the ground floor, and the nearest Changing Places toilets are at The Stade public toilet (TN34 3FJ) and Pelham Place (TN34 3AD). Assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed. There are 15 Blue Badge spaces in Rock-a-Nore car park.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Verschoonruimte

The Dotty Trail lets children explore the exhibitions through activities around the gallery. Family Days take place on Thursdays in school holidays with activities in the galleries and a drop-in workshop in the studio run by a local artist; no booking is needed. Baby changing is on the first floor, and the gallery is a breastfeeding-friendly venue.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The first-floor restaurant coquina serves Mediterranean-inspired food and is open to everyone without an exhibition ticket. The shop sells gifts from more than 25 local artists and makers and also has an online shop. Free lockers are available. Wi-Fi is mentioned only for the hireable Learning Studio and Meeting Room.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

The Learning Studio holds up to 40 people theatre-style or 50 standing, the Meeting Room seats 4, and coquina takes 45 seated or 60 standing with use of a sun terrace. The galleries can be hired in part or in full. Community rates may apply to eligible groups.

Je bezoek plannen