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Hastings Fat Tuesday










Thousands of pounds have been secured for arts and culture in the heart of Hastings.
Hastings Borough Council has successfully bid for £150,000 of funding from Arts Council England and is gearing up to spend the money on a two-year arts project at The Stade.
Council leader, Councillor Jeremy Birch, said: “This money is almost half of the total we have committed to this exciting project. We will be investing some £380,000 in the arts for this area over the next couple of years and have some exciting plans.
“We are calling this scheme ‘Stade Saturdays’ and that’s exactly what we hope to deliver; a programme of performance and arts at The Stade Open Space, free for everyone. We are working on offering weekly entertainment from a whole host of artists, singers, performers and dancers and will be announcing a full line-up in due course.
“We are very fortunate to be working with partners at local, regional and national level who are hugely experienced in this sector and will help bring the “wow factor” to our plans.
The programme will be launched on March 17th by a performance of 'Fisherman’s Friends' the internationally popular sea shanty singing group from Port Isaac in Cornwall. Other highlights later in the year include the leading Dutch street arts company Close Act performing the open-air spectacular 'P-Leau' and a performance by the world renowned Hofesh Shechter Dance Company.
“This isn’t just about providing entertainment though, an investment in the arts is also an investment in the community and a significant amount of work over the next few months will focus on involving residents from all across the town in the programme.  It’s important that the unique character of The Stade is celebrated and remains intact and we will be working closely with the fishing community to do just that.
“Alongside the Jerwood Gallery, which opens just as Stade Open Space season starts, we are providing more and more reasons to enjoy the cultural life of Hastings & St Leonards, whether as a resident or visitor. Our commitment to the arts is something we should be proud of; it is the sign of a town with its eyes on the future, building on its reputation as a hotspot for fun, entertainment and cultural value. I look forward to seeing some fantastic performances over the next two years and visiting our soon-to-be-opened gallery.”