Nine local arts projects have received funding from the 2022 Creative Commissions grant scheme run by Adur & Worthing Trust. Taking place throughout the year, they range from community wool weaving workshops in Sompting, to augmented reality apps, drag artist performances and Black History Month celebrations.
Now in its fifth round of grant-making, this year’s Creative Commissions attracted a high number of varied applications and the successful bids demonstrate the sheer variety of creative people and talent in the area.
Karen Simporis, Chair of Adur & Worthing Trust said:
’I’ll confess; I was a bit daunted by the quality, diversity and sheer number of submissions this year! A very challenging process for the selection panel!
After much deliberation we made our decision aiming to cover as many genres as possible, targeted age and ability groups across Worthing & Adur, whilst maintaining quality.
We hope you like our choices and that all unsuccessful applicants have found well deserved funding elsewhere.
If you’re new to applying for grants, do contact us for advice as we hope to run the scheme again.’
The aim of the Creative Commissions is to highlight the diversity of talent that exists in Adur & Worthing, to support innovative ideas that the public can enjoy and to support locally based creatives including people who haven’t received funding before.
The full list of projects to look forward to this year is:
Sight Support Worthing
“Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Community Art Project” – To celebrate the 70 year anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, Sight Support Worthing are hosting workshops held by Inclusive Arts, Nina Reid, Barry Williams & Sarah Sepe. Final displays of the artwork will be on display at Rowlands Road and Steyne Gardens over the Jubilee weekend.
Jacob Chilmaid
“Queens on the Coast” – Student and drag artist, Jacob Chilmaid a.k.a Isabelle End, is hosting a drag extravaganza at Coast Cafe featuring 9 exciting local LGBTQ+ performance artists setting foot on the Worthing stage for the very first time.
South Coast Skate Club
“Skate Reel” – a project featuring skateboarding and film. With film-making workshops run by Andy Evans, young people are invited to collaborate and shoot their own skateboarding films and see them screened at a celebratory event at Cellar Arts Club, Worthing.
Kristian Coburn
“Just Add Water” – Local filmmaker captures stories and conversations with sea swimmers in Adur & Worthing. The film will premiere at a free screening event in Worthing.
Katie Gander
“Weaving Wool Together – Connecting Communities” – in collaboration with Sustainable Sussex & Agecraft, artist and shepherd Katie Gander will work with the local community to create large scale textile pieces using wool from Sompting Community Farm.
Figment Arts
“Looking Out” – Figment Arts, will be collaborating with Superstar Arts, to support a group of learning disabled participants to visit Highdown Gardens, and produce creative responses to the coming of Spring, using Kaleidoscopes, photography, video and mixed media visual art. The work will be exhibited at Colonnade House 14 – 26 June and will also be on show later in the year at the Neighbourhood Store in Shoreham by Sea, and at Highdown Gardens.
The Coastal Creatives
“Conserve, Create, Change” – a project featuring 3 conscious creatives on a mission to celebrate and conserve our beaches and coastline and encourage artistic creativity. Amanda Beck, Chris Beck & Carmen Haselup are holding an outdoor exhibition at the Worthing Borough Council owned West Buildings Shelter, launching in July.
Simon Wilkinson
“Upon Seeing The Sun Disappear Behind The Barn” – Simon Wilkinson is creating a smartphone app for an augmented reality story which will explore the relationship between a medical robot and a child who is in that robot’s care – a narrative which compares the way the robot sees the world with the way the child sees the world exploring what it means to be human. Exhibition dates at Worthing Dome to be confirmed.
Spring into Soul
“Black History Month Celebration” – Choir group, Spring into Soul, are marking Black History Month this October with a series of performances and workshops at schools and community venues highlighting the important contributions and achievements of members of the Black community. A final free event at the Factory Live will be a family fun evening of music and dancing.
About the Trust;
Adur & Worthing Trust was formed in 2015 and is a registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee.
