Sussex Craft Week: From the South Downs to the Seafront
Sussex Craft Week opens for its second edition on 20 June, running across the county until 28 June, and for anyone with an interest in textiles, the programme rewards close attention. Organised by ROSA (Review of Sussex Arts) in partnership with West Dean, the festival has grown into a genuinely region-wide affair, spanning exhibitions, open studios, workshops and a new initiative called MarketPlace for buying directly from makers. From the chalk coast to the Downs, many of Sussex's seaside towns are getting involved, so a day at the beach can easily fold into a day of textile-led craft.
Give Take on the loom by Caron Penney. Photo: Caron Penney
One exhibition to seek out is WOVEN at The Crypt Gallery, Arundel Cemetery, where Caron Penney and Katharine Swailes show recent handwoven tapestry. The setting matters here: a small, atmospheric crypt gallery that lends the work a sense of permanence and weight, letting these pieces register as both image and object. Penney follows the exhibition with a handwoven tapestry course at Arundel Museum from 25 to 28 June, open to complete beginners through to experienced weavers, which feels like a rare chance to learn from a practitioner at the top of her field.
Handmade quilted textile by Eelo and Idler, who will be at the Middle Farm Maker's Fair at part of Sussex Craft Week MarketPlace.
Along the coast, Brighton and Hove offer their own draws. Brighton Art Space hosts an exhibition of marquetry and collage by Lou Taylor, while Hove Museum of Creativity runs a tour of its contemporary craft collection on 25 June, taking in textiles by Alice Kettle alongside jewellery, ceramics and paper sculpture.
Further along the coast, Hastings hosts two MarketPlace events at The Observer Building: Hastings Craft Weekend on 20-21 June, with over 35 designer-makers selling textiles and other handmade work, followed by the Hastings International Ceramics Fair the following weekend. Eastbourne also joins in, with Richard Mason's mobile sculptures on show at Emma Mason Gallery throughout June.
Textiles by Woven Mairi, who will be opening their studios on 25 June.
Colour is the connecting thread for several shows inland. Continuum studios in Lewes hosts Natural and Un-natural Colour in Craft, curated by Kathie Murphy, bringing together seven makers across textiles, basketry, papercraft and more to ask where colour in craft actually comes from. Textile artist Deborah Manson and basket-maker Ruby Taylor (Native Hands) are among those taking part.
Open studios offer plenty for textile lovers too. In Edburton, Woven Mairi opens the studio from 25 to 28 June, showing how traditional machinery turns South Downs yarn into woven cloth. Near Petworth, Atelier Weftfaced's open studio on 21 June offers the chance to see handweaving in process.
Paper Marbling taster sessions will be running at West Dean College
For those wanting hands-on time, West Dean's course programme includes an Introduction to Marbling for Paper, Textiles and Leather Book Arts, while Apron Community Garden in Shoreham runs a workshop on traditional tin embossing.
Taken together, this is a programme that treats textile craft as living practice, with makers happy to talk process, materials and technique. Full listings, including booking details for courses and tours, are at sussexcraftweek.com.
. . .
Further Information:
Sussex Craft Week is on from 20-28 June 2026
. . .
Image Credits:
Lead: Ruby Taylor delivering an open woodland workshop. Photo: Sussex Craft Week
All further images as credited in captions.