Wriggle Room: Open Studio

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.