Art & Design
Galleries, Exhibitions & Events
The opening of the major exhibition exploring the Bloomsbury group through fashion at the new Charleston space in Lewes has brought many visitors to the area but there are many independent galleries in Lewes as well as regular exhibitions and events.
Art lovers visiting the area can enjoy an art trail along the South Coast and visit the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, De La Warr in Bexhill and the Hastings Contemporary – all reached by train along the coast. But there is no need to leave the town as Lewes has a thriving art scene and has regular Festivals such as the popular Artwave Arts Festival showcasing talented local artists and designers.
Artwave Festival
An inclusive un-curated festival with no jury selection and we encourage artists and makers of all ages, any discipline, and at all stages of their career, to take part. Sign up for mailing list
2023 Cover image by Irene Marot
Gallery Listings
If we have missed you off and you’d like to be included, email us on info@leweshub.org.uk
Chalk Gallery
The gallery also has a programme of featured artists throughout the year as well as guest artists and other publicised special events. A well-loved destination for art lovers and embedded in the local art community, Chalk Gallery is renowned for nurturing local artistic talent and empowering its artists. Chalk Gallery website
Charleston in Lewes
Their long-term goal is to open a permanent Bloomsbury gallery, that will bring 100 of the most important Bloomsbury works back to Sussex with the support of the National Portrait Gallery, Tate and the V&A. Our vision also includes housing our growing Bloomsbury archive in a central location (in addition to Firle which also has many creative events) that is accessible to researchers and visitors. We will be using our initial season of programming to talk to our local community about how this vision for a permanent cultural centre in Lewes could shape up.
Meiklejohn Gallery
A new and exciting exhibition space for emerging and established artists. They run a diverse programme, exhibiting solo and group exhibitions of contemporary craft, print, sculpture and paintings. Meiklejohn website
Star Brewery
This delightful visual arts exhibition space, first established as the Star Gallery in the late 1980s and later known as the Hop Gallery, has a history of hosting exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists and of showcasing both established artists and up-and-coming talented artists, photographers and makers. Find out more at Star Brewery website
Sarah Burgess Gallery
Inspired by the beauty and seasonal drama of the South Downs coast where she lives, Sarah Burges creates dramatic seascapes, landscapes and vibrant floral displays embodied in breathtaking large-scale paintings and enchanting hand-tufted rugs. Online shop and website Sarah Burgess
Sussex Designers Guild
The Guild Shop & Gallery is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 10am – 5pm. The shop is staffed by the makers themselves, so each has good knowledge of work in their own discipline and personally knows the other makers so is in a good position to give you all the help you may need. Online shop and website
Lewes Creatives
Lewes Creatives is a diverse collective of talented Artists & Makers based in the Lewes area. From jewellers, ceramicists and textile artists, printers, painters, photographers and aromatherapists, all the artists work to commission as well as produce their own creations for sale via their own websites. Find out more at Lewes Creatives
Follow our posts with news on latest exhibitions – coming soon. Send us your news at leweshub@gmail.com