Thought-provoking art exhibition opens

July 9, 2020

Steph Fuller, Director of Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, unveils a fantastic new art exhibition this summer.

I’m delighted to be sharing with you the news that we are reopening to the public on 16 July, with a new exhibition, tillage by artist John Newling. The exhibition is very much about place, growing and nature, and includes work the artist has made using leaves collected for him by local families and allotment holders, and some very new work created during lockdown walks. The desire to connect with nature has been very strong for many people during this difficult period, and this exhibition really reflects that need.

Alongside this as always at the museum you can see work produced by the artists and craftspeople who came to Ditchling from the early 20th century onwards, looking for a better and more sustainable way to live their lives in the beautiful South Downs. This includes carving, textiles, calligraphy, printing and metalwork by acclaimed artists including Eric Gill, Edward Johnston and Ethel Mairet.

We want visitors to have an enjoyable and inspiring experience, and to feel safe with us, so we have put special measures in place to ensure this. We have reduced the capacity of the museum to less than a third of normal visitor numbers so there is plenty of room for social distancing, and there will be hand sanitising points, enhanced cleaning and hygiene and a one-way route around the museum. Tickets must be booked online so we can limit numbers. We have received the Visit Britain ‘We’re Good To Go’ consumer mark, the industry standard demonstrating that we have taken account of all the government and public health guidance and put appropriate measures in place.

We will be listening to visitors and taking on board your comments to improve your experience as we all venture out of lockdown. Many thanks to the South Downs National Park and the National Lottery Heritage Fund who are making this possible.

I hope to see you soon.