New Arts, Culture and Education Centre Planned for Eastbourne

A major, internationally celebrated art gallery in Eastbourne today announced, in partnership with Eastbourne Borough Council and others, a plan to create a "world-class culture and education centre" at Black Robin Farm in the South Downs.

Staff from Towner Eastbourne said this morning that the intention is "to transform lives by connecting communities and visitors with the outstanding nature, landscape and cultural heritage of the downlands for health and wellbeing."

The organisation added that the building design, by architects Feilden Fowles, has just been submitted for planning approval.

The submission of a planning application follows Eastbourne Borough Council's successful £19.8 million bid to the government's Levelling Up Fund. 

As what gallery and council leaders called "a new eastern gateway to the South Downs", this project is expected to act as a "catalyst" to connect the Sussex Heritage Coast's iconic landmarks of Beachy Head, Birling Gap, Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven.

With new walking, cycling and sustainable transport routes between the sites, the plans contain a hope to provide a "coherent visitor offer" for the one million national and international visitors who reportedly come to the region each year.

If the plans are successful, Black Robin Farm could offer a new destination for 100,000 visitors annually within five years.

The plan's creators claimed this could "revitalise Eastbourne's visitor economy and bring sustainable growth to the town and East Sussex".

Visitors could experience the cultural heritage of the rolling chalk downland through public artworks in the landscape, exhibitions, creative activities and courses, artist and maker events and a high quality, locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offer.

In partnership with East Sussex College Group, the Towner team also hope to deliver qualifications and skills training for young adults to support career development in the creative, leisure and tourism sectors.

Additionally, the proposal could bring opportunities for artists through commissions, residencies, showcasing and workspace.

With the Coastal Schools Partnership and community partners, it is also hoped that the plans can deliver creative activities and continuing professional development for teachers, encompassing natural materials, nature, ecology and food production for children and young people to grow confidence, build skills and improve life outcomes.

East Sussex College was announced today as a "key partner" in this project, to deliver qualifications and skills training for young adults to support career development in the creative, leisure and tourism sectors.

Towner will also provide artists opportunities through commissions, residencies, showcasing and workspace.

Joe Hill, CEO and Director, Towner Eastbourne, said:

"We are delighted to be leading on this project with Eastbourne Borough Council - it will allow us to deliver an ambitious artistic and educational programme situated in and around the nineteenth century dairy farm set in the stunning and unique landscape of the South Downs National Park. 

"Our ambition is to ensure genuinely inclusive access to art and culture through artist commissions and other professional development opportunities, skills development initiatives and creative engagement programmes for children and adults; especially those from Eastbourne's most disadvantaged communities.

"Our vision is to change lives through high quality creative and cultural experiences that raise aspirations, change career directions and improve life outcomes."

Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, added: 

"The government quickly identified the incredible opportunities within the council's bid and so to now see that ambition translated into stunning images of what could follow, is hugely exciting for me.

"I feel like we are within touching distance of something really momentous for Eastbourne."

Once planning permission is granted, the gallery and council said the next step is to work with key stakeholders and communities to deliver the project's vision over the next four years.

This should allow the communities surrounding Black Robin Farm to address and celebrate Eastbourne's identity, increasing pride and raising aspirations, and convey its unique heritage to visitors. 

The plans indicated that the redevelopment of Black Robin Farm is expected to demonstrate leadership in the environmental sustainability of new art and culture projects.

It is being designed and built with a commitment to achieve a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) "Excellent" rating, with an ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, whilst also achieving biodiversity net gain across the site.

Towner Eastbourne, formerly the Towner Art Gallery, is marking its centenary this year. It moved to its present location in 2009.