Welcome to Coastal Currents Arts Festival 2014, featuring a curated programme of live art performances and commissioned artworks as well as a wealth of open studios, exhibitions and events taking place throughout Hastings, St Leonards and beyond.

Great British Life: Credit - Alice AndersonCredit - Alice Anderson (Image: Archant)

This year Coastal Currents has developed a very special curated programme alongside the homegrown exhibitions, events and ever popular open studios that take place as part of the festival. The work has been chosen to appeal to local residents, visitors, artists and families alike, appearing in the public realm, free of charge and open to everyone.

International artists, Kate MccGwire and Alice Anderson, have been especially commissioned to create bold and large-scale site-specific installations, to run throughout the festival. Using cascades of feathers, MccGwire’s installation will transform the quiet space beside the crypt at St Mary in the Castle, whilst Anderson will use copper mesh to create a site responsive work at Dyke & Dean.

Great British Life: VEX by Kate MccGwire (Photographer: John Paul Bland)VEX by Kate MccGwire (Photographer: John Paul Bland) (Image: © John-Paul Bland 2008)

Live performances will take place over all three weekends, in parks, around the Stade and along the seafront. Watch out for women with saws and chairs, a group of men slowly melting to the ground and a man in a suit sailing an enormous paper boat.

Full details at coastalcurrents.org.uk