illustration Jan Barron
The Art Group, ACAP, (Arts Crafts and Photographs) moves to the Bay Hotel in Pevensey Bay from St. Wilfrid’s Hall this coming month. First meetingat new location, Monday 1 July.
The group which was established in January this year has grown over the months and has a dedicated following.
Talking on their web platform, Val Racher, one of the artists who set up the group said, “On 7th January 2019 founder members of the Art, Crafts and Photographs movement decided to set up a weekly session. Meeting on Monday afternoons at St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, Pevensey Bay from 1pm to 4pm the inaugural session saw members painting, drawing, paper cutting, card making, crocheting, knitting, felting and beading. Since that first week we have added calligraphy, lino cutting and rag rugging”.
The move to the new public bar space at the Bay Hotel is linked to the new art gallery at the Bay Hotel, which the Racher sisters also set up in May this year.
The pocket art gallery is now open in the lounge area of the hotel, with featured artists appearing on a monthly basis. The gallery was opened by James Braxton, television personality and antiques expert, and one of the stars of BBC Antiques Road Trip.
The art group joins a friendship club and another art group from Stone Cross now utilising the renovated public bar space in the afternoons and evenings at the Bay Hotel.
The renovated public bar space is now light and bright and spacious, adding a new aspect to the services that the hotel offers to local people.
Organisers of the Monday art group at the hotel say, “we are still recruiting new members and anyone interested in joining, what is a very happy and informal group, should contact Christine on 07817 464020″.
Talking to the Pevensy Bay Journal Val Racher said (29 June) “Preparing now for next week and our new art venue at the Bay Hotel. She added that her sister, the other half of the dynamic art duo, was also busy in preparation for July.
“Christine will be exhibiting as ‘Featured Artist’ for July. She’s busy sorting her artwork for that at the moment”.
ACAP is one of a number of organisations in the community concerned with artistic endeavour, representative of the strength of the artistic community here in Pevensey, Pevensey Bay and Normans Bay.
The work of the Makery at the Enterprise Centre in Eastbourne has shown the way forward. They aim to provide an innovative forum for local artists, designers and makers to showcase and demonstrate their works. The organisation works as a co-operative.
A permanent art gallery to feature the work of artists living and working here has been discussed for a number of years, not just by artists, but by key stakeholders looking at ways to attract visitors to Pevensey Bay.
