The Workship Studio has been based on West Street in various guises, with a range of artists and makers over the past ten or so years. They will be opening up on Fri 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd, selling a range of prints, ceramics, paintings, collages, handcrafted objects and artists' boxes.

We chose the weekend of 1st-3rd December for our Winter salon because it ties-in with the annual Old Town Christmas celebrations. This year the Spirit of Christmas on Fri 1st and Sat 2nd includes a Santa parade & grotto, live music and late night openings at many of the Old Town shops.

More information on Spirit of Christmas Facebook page here.

Ed Boxall will be leading this free magical session at Simply Italian on Sunday from 11am. Everybody welcome.

This is Sybil from the Insect Circus, she will be joining us on West Street for the Winter Salon.

Saturday 2nd December 2-6pm. Do come and say hello!

We've had a great lot of press this week, leading up to the Winter Salon events this weekend.

See here for a piece in the Hastings Online Times

Here for an article in the Hastings Independent

And here's a glimpse from the Hastings Observer:

A Christmas Carol by Candlelight - performed by Anthony Roberts

8pm, Simply Italian - 15-18 East Parade, Hastings Old Town, on the seafront

How would you like to spend a most agreeable and splendid evening listening to a live reading of Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol

No?....... Bah Humbug!

A candlelit, one-off performance as part of our Winter Salon, Anthony Roberts the Director of Colchester Arts Centre will present this timeless classic with live musical accompaniment by Jamie Cunliffe.

This is a free performance and capacity is limited to 50. Seats will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

There will be a donation bar serving wine, soft drinks and mince pies.

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”
Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol

Ye Olde Curiosity Swap Shop Pop up in the Old Town

Curated by Transition Town Hastings & St Leonards

December at 14:00–16:00

Simply Italian, 15-18 East Parade

Hastings Old Town seafront

A FREE RECYCLE SWAP SHOP with a difference. 

Part of Illuminating West Street: A Winter Salon.

-------------------------o0o-------------------------

MAKE SPACE FOR CHRISTMAS...

DONATE A SACK OF SURPLUS SEASONAL STUFF

AND/OR PICK UP SOME PRE-LOVED PRESENTS...TOTALLY FREE

We're hoping for quality, arty and crafty curiosities that others will happily give on for presents.

Some small print: We’re grateful for all donations but have some rules!

We’ll be on hand from 1pm for donations ONLY. Swap STARTS at 2pm.

Please think about SIZE (no bikes, beds or bathtubs), SAFETY (no knives, weapons or fire-starters) and SOCKETS (no kettles, computers or coffee-makers)!

Some more small print...

~~~~~ IMPORTANT SWAP SHOP RULES ~~~~~

You are welcome to only bring stuff, or only take stuff.

Please bring things early and certainly before 3pm.

All items MUST be 100% free and must be from domestic (not commercial) sources.

Please try to bring things as early as possible.

If you have bulky items, like bikes or furniture, then please don’t bring these to the swap shop.

Don’t bring anything illegal!

Don’t bring anything dangerous (no sharp knives, weapons, etc)

No pets or livestock.

No rubbish. Please don’t bring anything that really is no good to anyone. The Swap Shop is run a small group of local people who volunteer their time to organise these events and we don’t want to end up with a whole room full of rubbish to take to the dump!

No electrical/electronics please!

See the Facebook event page 

For more information on Transition Town Hastings & St Leonards visit their website 

Our first event Illuminating West Street: A Winter Salon in partnership with Home Live Art has been funded by Arts Council England and will run over the first weekend in December, a programme of free special events & performances on and around West Street featuring:

'Sybil' - a ten foot snail from the Insect Circus

A vanishing lady, a white rabbit and other mysterious acts & encounters presented by Duo Bogof

A Christmas Carol by candlelight read by Anthony Roberts, director of Colchester Arts Centre

A Christmas 'Grottoesque' by artist Peter Quinnell

Street decorations and illuminations from Radiator Arts

Ye Olde Curiosity Swap Shop presented by Transition Town Hastings

Family storytelling, singing and projections by artist/ musician Ed Boxall

Workshops

+ Open studios

Further details and exact timings to come soon.

These events run alongside Hastings Old Town Spirit of Christmas event.