Exhibition

Wriggle Room: Open Studio is an open-to-all installation of interactive artworks celebrating the first year of Towner’s early years' programme, Wriggle Room. The exhibition highlights collaborative artist practice, early years and parent and carers’ creativity alongside meaningful engagement with our unique landscape and community collaboration.

Wriggle Room artists-in-residence, Katy Beinart and Lydia Hunt, have worked over the last twelve months with parents, carers, volunteers and under-5s at Towner and Willingdon Trees Community Centre in Hampden Park. Ideas from these resulting sessions have been developed through Katy and Lydia’s practice, observations and conversations to create an imaginative and playful space with both performative and visual elements.

To celebrate our first anniversary in May 2023, Katy and Lydia have explored themes around Sussex folklore and springtime, as well as connections to the East Sussex landscape, and references in Towner's rich collection. Elements have been designed for all ages and abilities to engage with, and visitors are encouraged to try on costumes, perform with shadows and ribbons, hide and decorate the dens, and look up for butterflies and experience the seasons with a stop-motion film.

Wriggle Room is supported by the Arts Council England, Eastbourne Borough Council and South Downs National Park Authority.

Please note:

This space will be closed for community groups on 23 May, 10.00am to 12.00pm.

Towner strives to host inclusive, accessible exhibitions. If you have any questions, please talk to a member of staff or contact us on towner@townereastbourne.org.uk 

○ There are a set of large, heavy glass doors leading into and out of the exhibition. There is a large green sign outside which says ‘Wriggle Room: Open Studio’

○ There is a large projection of shadows moving or a blank white screen.

○ The lighting is mid-low level.

○ There is music playing from a video which you’ll hear when you enter the space. The music is not loud but the space may become noisy if it’s busy.

○ Ear plug, ear defenders, magnifying glasses and wheelchairs are available on request.

○ There are backless chairs and floor cushions in the far left corner as you enter. You can ask staff at the door if you would like a folding stool.

○ The floor is flat and mostly concrete. In the left corner of the room is a section of black carpet, there is no change in floor level.

○ The space has some interactive elements in the centre of the room, including wearable costumes on rails. There are tabards which can go over your head with no sleeves. There is also a den, which you can climb into or decorate with ribbons available.

○ There’s a minimum 1.5m wide route through the space. There is a larger open space behind projector screen and under the butterfly mobiles for performances and dance. You will also find a large mirror under the butterfly mobiles and a second den which you can also decorate.

○ Additional works include: printed collographs, a stop-motion film with sound, mobiles hanging from the ceiling, tabards hanging from the wall and ribbon sticks. Only the ribbon sticks can be removed from the wall if you’d like to use them in a performance.

○ Materials in the space include wood, paper and fabric.

○ The space is cool but not cold.

○ The reading level of the wall text and labels is 10+ years.

○ There are no labels in the space.

○ Large print guides are not available.

○ Audio guides are not available.

○ Braille guides are not available.

○ Easy Read guides are not available.

○ All spaces are scent-free.

○ The galleries are busiest between 11.00am and 2.00pm.

○ The nearest accessible toilet is also on the ground floor. From Studio 2 you turn left and go past the café area. Toilets are behind and to the left of the café. The first toilet on the left is accessible. There is also a gender neutral, wheelchair accessible bathroom can be found on the second floor.

○ There is a quiet space on the first floor. It is called the Ravillious library. To find it, you turn into Gallery 1 at the top of the stairs from the ground floor, or opposite the lift on the first floor. These doors may be stiff and you may need to ask for help to open them. Walk through the exhibition and on the right there is an archway through to another room. This is the Ravilious Library. You cannot take food or drink into this space.

○ Additionally, during non-screening times, you can use the cinema foyer area. To find it go out of the space and turn left, past the cinema café and turn right. You will find a quiet space with sofas and low lighting. Alternatively, it may be easier to go outside the main entrance where there is a large, open concrete square with benches at the edges.

○ Comfortable space for service animals to rest can be found in the ground floor foyer; with watering facilities available in the nearby cafe.