Artist Announces Youth Engagement Sessions for Town Centre Public Art Commission – Part of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections Project
As part of the project’s public art programme, INSTAR, will be hosting a series of creative workshops with local secondary schools throughout the Spring.
These printmaking sessions will invite GCSE students from Ark Alexandra and St Leonards Academy, alongside a local community group, to explore placemaking, coastal wildlife and local storytelling through lino and ink printing. Pupils will take away their own prints and contribute to their GCSE Art & Design Portfolios.
The works will be celebrated and shared as part of the wider project, and contribute local ideas to help shape INSTAR’s artwork, Twittens, for the town centre.
Artists, Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys, said: “We are excited to be creatively engaging with GCSE pupils in local secondary schools across the Hastings community this spring, as part of our public artwork commission for the town centre. All artworks, created using relief printmaking methods, will be inspired by placemaking and the local wildlife, and will soon be shared and celebrated locally. Alongside our engagement programme we continue to work closely with Arup, the design team, and the project team to progress our commission as part of the wider development scheme and the green connections vision.”
Supporting a long-term vision for Hastings
INSTAR will also work collaboratively with the wider project team and local community to contribute to the long-term vision of revitalising Hastings town centre through green infrastructure and creative placemaking.
This collaboration marks an important step forward in building on the rich creative spirit and enhancing community engagement at the heart of Hastings.
Artists Nick Humphreys and Trish Evans (INSTAR)
To find out more about INSTAR’s work view their portfolio of work Portolio — INSTAR
Project progress will also be shared on the project’s blog page.
Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping places and local government reorganisation, said: “I’m delighted this project is helping to bring new creativity and energy to Hastings town centre, while giving local young people the chance to shape and celebrate the spaces they love. I look forward to seeing how INSTAR’s vision evolves as they work with the design team and the local community to create a meaningful and inspiring series of artworks that enrich the public realm scheme and reflects the character and creativity of our town. The final proposals will be shared more widely after these workshops.
In October 2025, INSTAR were selected to deliver the public art commission for the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project. The appointment was made by Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex County Council and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery following a competitive selection process.
The process saw four artists shortlisted from an impressive 100 initial applications, with finalists presenting their proposals to a review panel before a final decision was made.
More details on the artist selection process are available here: Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections Project Public Art Commission artist announcement — Hastings Town Deal
Updates on Public Realm and Green Connections project will continue to be shared via the Town Centre Public Realm & Green Connections — Hastings Town Deal project page.