Artists deliver creative print workshops with young people, as part of the Hastings Town Centre Public Art Commission

INSTAR, the artists appointed to create the Public Art Commission as part of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project, have been working with local young people through a series of creative workshops – taking inspiration from coastal habitats and wildlife of Hastings.

During March and April, INSTAR delivered workshops in local secondary schools, including Ark Alexandra Academy and The St Leonards Academy, engaging over 50 year 10 and year 11 students in hands-on printmaking. Workshops will continue leading up to the summer.

Inspired by Hastings’ coastal wildlife, local environment and sense of place, students explored printmaking techniques to create their own artworks. The sessions encouraged creative expression while introducing ideas about the natural world and a sense of home both for nature and where they live.

As part of their creative research, INSTAR are also connecting with local Transition Town Hastings’ planting schemes, discovering more about their pocket parks and pilot coastal planting on the promenade to link their creative work with the project’s wider green infrastructure ambitions.

The prints created during the workshops will contribute to students’ GCSE Art & Design portfolios, while also helping to inform INSTAR’s developing concept for the public art commission, Twittens, which will be installed in the town centre, as part of the wider design for the Public Realm and Green Connections project.

How will Twittens be created?

Trish and Nick from INSTAR will be working with renowned stonemason and maker Steve Roche, whose portfolio demonstrates an impressive range of ambitious projects. Trish and Nick, along with their border collie Drift, recently visited Steve at his studio in Sheffield, where work has now begun on a series of carved samples.

This important stage allows INSTAR to explore and test different carving approaches, including depth, texture, and scale of the artwork designs. The workshops with local schools replicate the same carving techniques, creating an exciting opportunity for participants to engage directly with the artistic process and learn from professional practice.

Sandstone is available in many grades, colours, and textures, and the choice of material has been carefully considered. It needs to withstand Hastings’ exposed coastal climate while also supporting the visual ambitions of the dynamic design experience for residents and visitors.

Sandstone was chosen as it connects with the local geology of the area. Steve will carve each section in the quarry, and images of the process will be shared as the artwork designs are finalised and work progresses.

‍To find out more about Steve Roche’s work visit his website.

Postcards - Wish you were here 

As part of the project, INSTAR will be creating a series of postcards leading up to the summer. They will be inviting local businesses and market stallholders to share their favourite spot, view, or experience of Hastings.

This will offer an opportunity to exchange stories, spark conversations, and uncover hidden gems and personal connections to the town. These memories and reflections will be gathered and shared, creating a collective portrait of Hastings.

Connecting with local communities and groups is an important part of INSTAR’s artistic practice. Through this process, they hope to deepen their own relationship with Hastings – a place they have come to know, explore, and love over the past six months.

‍Artists, Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys, said: “It has been so inspiring to work with pupils at Ark Alexandra and The St Leonards Academy, creatively engaging with print and ink, and drawing inspiration from Hastings’ wildlife and coastal surroundings.

The artworks created through these sessions will help inform our final designs and will be shared and celebrated locally.”

Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping places and local government reorganisation, said: “I’m delighted with the creativity and energy shown in these youth engagement sessions. It is exciting to see how INSTAR’s vision is developing through collaboration with young people, the design team and also the wider community. The final proposals will reflect the unique character and creativity of Hastings.”

INSTAR will continue working collaboratively with the wider project team and local community as the designs develop, contributing to the long-term vision of revitalising Hastings town centre through green infrastructure and creative placemaking.

Artists Nick Humphreys and Trish Evans (INSTAR)

To find out more about INSTAR’s work view their portfolio of work Portfolio — INSTAR

Project progress will also be shared on the project’s blog page.

 Notes

Following feedback, INSTAR explored opportunities to work with a local stonemason and engaged with around 30 local suppliers. While several local stonemasons demonstrated excellent craftsmanship, the specialist requirements of this large-scale public art commission led INSTAR to appoint an experienced stonemason with a track record of delivering comparable projects. The sandstone will be quarried, carved and stored at the quarry until installation, enabling close oversight of the process and helping to ensure the artwork is delivered safely and in line with the wider construction programme.