Experience the sights, sounds and stories of the Hastings fishing fleet.
A ground-breaking new partnership and exhibition that will collect and display the living histories of the fishing community of Hastings, Sussex for the first time is now open at Hastings Contemporary. The project, which will preserve an intangible cultural heritage for future generations, has received a grant of £249,972 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is part of a season of events that celebrate the unique knowledge, skills and practices of the Hastings fishing fleet.
The exhibition is part of a year-long project between Hastings Contemporary and Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society to create an online archive of oral histories, an illustrated map of the historic Stade area, and a rich programme of events and engagement activities for the community.
At the centre of the project will be the presentation of an oral history archive, collected and curated by Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society and artist Mary Hooper. Hooper will create an immersive sound installation, The Sun Feeds the Wind, in Hastings Contemporary’s Foreshore Gallery (29 March – 14 September 2025), giving voice to the fishing community which surrounds the gallery.
The exhibition is designed by Jane Bruce and includes a moving image by local artist Nichola Bruce and video designer Sam Sharples. Interpretation from the fishing community will be woven into the exhibitions and programme of events, including text, tours, recordings, talks and workshops, ensuring the fishermen’s living culture and experience of life at sea is centred.
The show is part of a season of exhibitions at Hastings Contemporary showcasing life above and below the waves. The Sun Feeds the Wind appears alongside Undersea which brings together paintings, prints, drawings and objects spanning four centuries and from around the world, curated by the art historian James Russell.
THE SUN FEEDS THE WIND: 29 March 2025 - 14 September 2025
Hastings Contemporary, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW
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Further Information: Hastings Contemporary - Hastings Contemporary