England's Creative Coast

England’s Creative Coast is a vibrant cultural destination in the UK. Kent, Essex, East and West Sussex have some of the most outstanding galleries, arts organisations, events and festivals in the country.

1400km of stunning coastline, limitless cultural adventures...

Seaside towns thriving with creativity, breathtaking coastal landscape and some of the most thought-provoking contemporary art being produced today - England’s Creative Coast spans 1400km of shoreline from the South Downs to the Thames Estuary.

This beautiful and dramatic landscape has inspired artists for centuries and in 2020, seven new site-specific artworks by seven international contemporary artists - Andreas Angelidakis, Mariana Castillo Deball, Holly Hendry, Jasleen Kaur, Katrina Palmer, Pilar Quinteros and Michael Rakowitz – will connect the coastline of Essex, Kent and East Sussex and the world-class arts organisations in these places.

The Waterfronts series of artworks will be set in the landscape of Margate, Folkestone, Hastings, Bexhill-on-Sea, Eastbourne, Gravesend and Southend-on-Sea. Launching in spring 2020, these temporary works will open sequentially over the summer and be on display until late autumn.

Taking the border between land and water as their inspiration, each artist will respond to these unique coastal locations, focusing on issues, stories and questions related to the area to offer fresh perspectives on each place.

Michael Rakowitz (b.1973, New York. Lives and works in Chicago) is working with Turner Contemporary for Margate
Mariana Castillo Deball (b.1975, Mexico City. Lives and works in Berlin) is working with Towner Eastbourne
Holly Hendry (TBC. Lives and works in London) is working with De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea
Andreas Angelidakis (b. 1968, Athens, Greece. Lives and works in Athens) is working with Hastings Contemporary
Pilar Quinteros (b.1988 Santiago, Chile. Lives and works in Santiago) is working with Creative Folkestone as part of Folkestone Triennial 2020
Jasleen Kaur (b.1986 Glasgow. Lives and works in London) is working with Cement Fields in Gravesend
Katrina Palmer (b.1967, London. Lives and works in London) is working with Metal in Southend-on-Sea

England’s Creative Coast is led by Turner Contemporary and Visit Kent and encompasses a whole cultural travel experience. Through the world’s first art Geotour, you will be able to game as you move through the landscape, discovering the commissioned artworks, collecting geocaching rewards and hidden gems along the way.

To plan your trip to see these time-limited artworks you can curate your own journey using the England’s Creative Coast itinerary website and find further cultural adventures across Essex and West Sussex.

Where will you visit on England’s Creative Coast? Share your trip using #CreativeCoast

England’s Creative Coast is led by Turner Contemporary and Visit Kent and aims to inspire visitors to the region.

Towner Eastbourne, the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings Contemporary, Creative Folkestone, Turner Contemporary in Margate, Cement Fields in Gravesend and Metal in Southend-on-Sea have joined forces for the first time to pioneer this cultural adventure.

The project is principally funded by Arts Council England’s Cultural Destinations programme and Visit England / Visit Britain through the Discover England Fund, supported by South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), East Sussex County Council, Kent County Council, Essex County Council, Visit Essex, Southend Borough Council, Experience West Sussex, Historic Dockyard Chatham and Southeastern and is also in partnership with Pallant House Gallery, Cass Sculpture Foundation and Arundel Castle.