Intergenerational art project culminates in awards ceremony
Winning artists who took part in a unique project that connected local students with retirees have been presented with awards at a special ceremony.
All previous artwork in communal spaces in the councils' retirement housing had to be removed because of fire compliancy rules following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The project has seen the school's GCSE students create pieces based on a theme of 'Sussex Icons' including landscapes, buildings, and seaside scenes. Tenant artists from the retirement homes worked with the students to inspire their artwork, fostering a strong intergenerational connection.
People were invited to attend a public exhibition of the work at Marine Workshops in Newhaven and vote for their favourite piece of art. The top-voted works showcased a diverse range of styles.
The winners were: Artist choice - Amber (piece 11) ; Voters' choice - Leo (Piece 2); Outstanding photography - Noah (piece 38); Outstanding artwork - Ayla (Piece 22).
Councillor Mark Slater, Cabinet Member for Tenants and Those in Housing Need, said: "Thank you to everyone who attended the exhibition and took the time to vote. It has been wonderful to see the community come together to support these young artists. We very much look forward to seeing these pieces permanently displayed in our retirement housing for people to enjoy for many years to come."
Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, attended the ceremony. She said: "The turnout was testament to the fantastic quality of the work on display and also to how much we value the connections between different generations in our district. This partnership has exceeded expectations, successfully turning a safety requirement into a meaningful catalyst for community cohesion and artistic talent."
More ways to receive our news
- Keep me posted. Sign up to receive news and alerts from Lewes council by email
- Read District News - our council newspaper
- Our Social media
