A group of nine of us, including our Visual Art Patrons, Ned McConnell (Head of Visual Arts), João Conceição (Curator), Suzy Trevethan (Development Manager), and Jessica Cheetham (Head of Development), spent a brilliant day exploring London Gallery Weekend and visiting some of the city’s most exciting contemporary art galleries.
Across the day we visited exhibitions by Mark Corfield-Moore at Kate MacGarry, Ally Fallon at Hales Gallery, Russell Perkins and Shaniqwa Jarvis at Public Gallery, Candace Hill-Montgomery at Hollybush Gardens, and John Riddy at Frith Street Gallery. We also made a special visit to Phillida Reid to see an exhibition by Prem Sahib. Although this wasn’t officially part of London Gallery Weekend, it was too good an opportunity to miss.
One of the real highlights of the trip was hearing directly from several of the artists. We were fortunate to have talks from Mark Corfield-Moore, Russell Perkins, John Riddy and Prem Sahib, giving us a unique insight into their practices and the ideas behind the work on display. Having Ned and João with us throughout the day added another layer to the experience, helping to introduce the exhibitions and guiding us through them.
More than anything, the day was a chance to spend time together and enjoy contemporary art in a way that’s rarely possible. The artists and gallerists generously shared their time and knowledge, offering us special access to the exhibitions and creating opportunities for conversation that went far beyond a standard gallery visit.
It was a fun and memorable day being able to encounter a wide range of contemporary art, and a great example of the kinds of experiences available through the Visual Art Patron programme. If you’d like to enjoy exclusive visits, artist-led tours and behind-the-scenes access to some of the best contemporary art around, becoming a Visual Art Patron is a great way to get involved.
Over 850 people, a record number, visited the 2026 Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair, in association with Bexhill College and Talent Accelerator, at the De La Warr Pavilion on Friday 6 March.
Virtually the whole of the Pavilion was taken over by the annual community event with welcome and registration in the foyer, exhibitor stands in the Auditorium, and free workshops in the Studio, the Gallery Learning Space and on the Auditorium stage. There was a queue at opening with a continual stream of visitors through the day exploring jobs and opportunities, joining free workshops and receiving valuable employment support and advice.
Visitor feedback on the event included: ‘good to see a variety of roles open to all skills and ages’, ‘really helpful advice to kickstart job search’, ‘I got to speak to people I would never be able to’, ‘great to see kids and those looking for work in the community supported’ and ‘Ester’s confidence boosting course was amazing’.
Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships fair is a not-for-profit community led initiative organised by the De La Warr Pavilion, Kieran Mullan MP, Bexhill College and Rother District Council with support from Bexhill Chamber of Commerce. Fifteen students from Bexhill College and East Sussex College also helped out at this year’s event as part of a three day work experience programme organised by DLWP.
Kieran Mullan MP said: ‘I was delighted to spend time at this year’s Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair, meeting both exhibitors and visitors. The strong turnout once again highlighted the fair’s vital role in connecting jobseekers directly with employers and showcasing real opportunities. It was particularly encouraging to hear from exhibitors across a wide range of sectors who meet all their recruitment needs through the fair each year – a clear demonstration of its success and strong reputation within the local business community. My thanks also go to the workshop facilitators and organisers for delivering such a successful event, and to our 2026 sponsors – Bexhill College, Talent Accelerator, Connect to Work East Sussex, Greymoor Construction Ltd, Hastings Direct, Park Holidays UK, Ashdown Hurrey, Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, British Gypsum, East Sussex College Group, GreenBlue Urban and Home Instead – whose support makes the fair possible.’
Kim Byford, Head of Skills, De La Warr Pavilion, said: ‘Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair is incredibly important, an opportunity for everyone to discover their next step, whether that’s finding a job or developing the skills and getting the support to help them on their way. At DLWP we’re passionate about supporting people, particularly young people, to fulfil their potential. The fair is just one of hundreds of employment, skills development and work placement activities we’re involved in every year, most out of public sight, at the Pavilion and, as a partner in the Sussex-wide Coastal Catalyst programme, at school assemblies and college career events across the county. We hope everyone who came to this year’s fair got something out of the event to help them take their next step and fulfil their own potential.’
Explore careers and employment support and advice for adults and young people and their parents at careerseastsussex.co.uk. Find out more about DLWP’s skills and learning programmes and opportunities at dlwp.com.
The De La Warr Pavilion is pleased to announce that we are taking part in No Mow May, a nationwide initiative led by Plantlife that encourages people and organisations to put away the lawnmower and let nature grow. As part of this, we will be leaving our back roadway unmown for the entire month, allowing what is usually a closely managed space to be left naturally for a while.
At first glance, choosing not to mow might seem like a small gesture, but it plays a meaningful role in supporting local ecosystems. Across the UK, an estimated 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s, dramatically reducing the habitats that wildlife depends on. This loss is felt most acutely by pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which rely on wildflowers for nectar, particularly in early spring when food sources can be scarce. By simply letting grass grow, common plants like dandelions, daisies and clovers are given the chance to bloom, turning even modest patches of land into important feeding grounds.
Leaving our back roadway to grow is one way we can contribute to this wider effort. Longer grass provides not only food, but also shelter and breeding spaces for insects, which in turn support birds and other wildlife. It’s a reminder that biodiversity can thrive in everyday spaces, including those at the centre of towns like Bexhill. In doing so, we are also reducing the environmental impact associated with regular mowing.
We recognise that an unmown space may look untidy to begin with. But over the course of the month, this will gradually change, allowing wildflowers to emerge and insects to return. What might initially appear unfamiliar near the Bexhill seafront, will reveal itself to be rich with life. No Mow May invites us to reconsider what we value in our shared spaces, shifting away from neatness as the default and towards a more natural landscape.
As an organisation rooted in culture, the De La Warr Pavilion is always exploring ways to engage with the environment around us. Heather Getty, Duty General Manager, and part of our Green Team, commented: “Taking part in No Mow May is a simple step that connects us to a much larger national movement, one that highlights how collective small actions can have a significant impact.”
While the campaign focuses on the month of May, it also shows how green spaces are managed throughout the year, and how we can continue to support biodiversity beyond a single campaign. By allowing this space to grow, we are making room for nature to return and inviting our visitors to notice the changes as they unfold. It’s a quiet transformation, but an important one that demonstrates that sometimes the most positive action we can take is to step back and let nature lead.
The De La Warr Pavilion has announced that work has now begun to restore and reimagine the Grade I listed modernist landmark in Bexhill-On-Sea on England’s south coast. Launching the major transformation project, An Icon For Everyone in partnership with Rother District Council, that will redevelop this pioneering centre for the arts, creating new learning and community spaces, refurbish the auditorium and galleries, improve accessibility, support environmental sustainability and secure the Pavilion’s purpose as a creative and cultural home for all. This project is a key part of Transforming Heritage. Powering Community, a UK Government-funded partnership between Heart of Sidley, De La Warr Pavilion, and Rother District Council working together to create opportunities, inspiring pride of place and strengthening community life across Bexhill and Sidley.
Currently the De La Warr Pavilion in its 90th year is showing its age physically and environmentally. The building’s fabric is deteriorating and both structural and operational deficits need addressing urgently. The building has badly insulated external walls and leaking roofs, with poor levels of airtightness due to many of the metal-framed, single-glazed windows showing signs or corrosion and cracking. These issues will be resolved through this major transformation project, designed by multi prize-winning architects Haworth Tompkins in consultation with our local communities.
The first appointed contractors on site will be RTB roofing, working to improve the Pavilion’s environmental sustainability by fixing the main foyer flat roof so that it is watertight and insulated, ensuring the inside of the building is warmer and more comfortable for visitors and ready for improvements to heating and airtightness that will come with the later works. Key preparatory works will also be carried out on the auditorium roof ahead of the installation of solar photovoltaics later in the year (solar panels paid for by Rother District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)* funding).
Other work happening this year is the restoration of the iconic De La Warr Pavilion north and south staircase glazing, where specialist heritage glazing contractors will remove each pane of glass and carefully repair the metal frames before reglazing. This work will help improve the performance and long-term resilience of the building and reduce its operational environmental impact.
Planned works this Spring also include the repair of the auditorium piano lift, after being out-of-service for the last three years, contractors Centre Stage Engineering will restore this essential piece of equipment meaning our technical team can load in band equipment from the west stage doors avoiding the need to load through the delicate glass doors at the front of the building. Staging and seating can now be stored beneath the stage and accessed easily, reducing heavy lifting and turnaround times and allowing the auditorium to better support multiple users.
De La Warr Pavilion auditorium audiences will be happy to hear that new permanent seating is currently being crafted by Audience Systems, a leading UK designer, manufacturer and installer of specialist seating. With fabric now in production by Bute Fabrics (est. 1947) on the Isle of Bute, home of our sister Pavilion in Rothesay. Supporters can donate through the Your Seat In History campaign to help fund the building project, have their name engraved on chair plaques in the auditorium and become part of the Pavilion’s story.
All areas of the Pavilion will remain open throughout 2026. Some scaffolding will be in place and certain routes through the building will be temporarily adjusted. The addition of the DLWP 90th birthday Summer Programme on the south terrace will ensure that summer 2026 is a time full of activity for the pavilion.
This project is made possible through De La Warr Pavilion’s partnership with Rother District Council and the generous support of the UK Government, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Chalk Cliff Trust, Foyle Foundation, and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
Stewart Drew, CEO and Director, De La Warr Pavilion says:
“We have an exciting 90th year ahead as we begin these essential works to restore the Pavilion, starting with the roof and our iconic staircase glazing. This marks an important step towards our goal of reducing energy use and cutting costs in line with wider Net Zero ambitions. Alongside these works, new auditorium seating is on its way, and the return of a fully operational piano lift will significantly improve how we work behind the scenes – moving towards the start of Phase 1 of our masterplan project to reimagine this special place for the next century. This transformative project will create new learning and community spaces, improve accessibility, support sustainability and secure the Pavilion’s purpose as a creative and cultural home for all.
While there will be some changes around the building during this period, we’re delivering a bumper programme of events, exhibitions, gigs, screenings and special days for our community this year including Bexhill’s Big Summer Sounds, a festival that sees the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra take over the De La Warr Pavilion, alongside a major outdoor programme across the Pavilion’s terrace and lawns. Plus, our neighbour, Heart of Sidley’s new hub, also opens this June. Bexhill is a fantastic place to be.”
* The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that local authorities in England and Wales can place on new developments to help fund infrastructure such as schools, transport, parks, and health facilities. It ensures that development contributes toward the cost of supporting the community it creates or impacts.
In January this year, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced a new UK-wide competition for the UK Town Of Culture 2028. Towns of all different sizes are invited to bid for a total of £3.5m to spend on an ambitious programme of cultural activity that tells its unique story and contribution to the UK.
The Bexhill Cultural Network (BCN) intends to put Bexhill forward for this incredible opportunity. If successful, residents of Bexhill , as well as those who visit, will create, have access to and participate in activities such as dance, drama, song, art, craft, music, film, events and festivals that will show the world what a fantastic town we live in.
As a first step towards the Expression of Interest, BCN need to know how you, the people of Bexhill, want to tell our story – a story that sets Bexhill apart from the hundreds of other towns that will apply. We only have 400 words to do this so we invite you to respond to four key questions and statements that we have been asked us to consider, that will help us pull that story together:
– What are Bexhill’s values?
– What is Bexhill proud of?
– How does Bexhill contribute to our national story?
Through conversations and workshops we have learned that Bexhill sees itself as a town shaped by independence and care; for the sea, for shared spaces, and for the everyday life of the community. We know that very many people shape the culture of Bexhill in a myriad of ways: in schools and after school clubs, on the beach and in open spaces, in industrial units and community halls, through music, making, storytelling, heritage and social, well-being and sporting activity. They contribute to the cultural life of the town, often voluntarily, without ever calling, or knowing it as ‘culture’.
Therefore we need as many people as possible – individuals of all ages, shops, businesses, cafes and restaurants, B&Bs, charities, sports clubs, community groups, care homes and social groups of all kinds – to tell us what you know and love about Bexhill.
Your survey responses, along with the public consultation carried out by the Bexhill Neighbourhood Board in 2024, will help BCN tell the story of Bexhill in your words, and create the vision of what our Town of Culture programme might include. Please help us to tell our unique and authentic story and win this huge investment for our town.
We are pleased to have the support of Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Bexhill and Battle who says:
“I’m delighted that Bexhill will be applying to be the UK Town of Culture 2028. Anyone who lives in, works in, or visits Bexhill already knows that the town has a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive cultural scene. Throughout the year, it hosts and supports a broad and exciting range of cultural events, exhibitions, educational programmes, societies, clubs, and organisations.”
Bexhill’s passion and enthusiasm for culture make the town unique and help residents of all ages to live full and enriched lives. I am proud to give my full support to this bid.”
More information on the UK Town Of Culture competition can be found here.
Image: Bexhill-on-Sea coming together to achieve the Guinness World Record for the largest Charleston dance on July 23, 2017, with 1,086 participants dancing for five minutes at the De La Warr Pavilion.
On its 90th Birthday – De La Warr Pavilion and Rother District Council awarded £7.6 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to complete the essential first phase of landmark restoration and transformation project.
Celebrating its 90th birthday on 12th December, The De La Warr Pavilion and partner Rother District Council are delighted to announce that the Pavilion has been awarded £7,646,425 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver Phase 1 of “An Icon for Everyone” a landmark £51.9 million masterplan project to restore and reimagine Britain’s first modernist multi-arts centre.
This transformational funding will enable the De La Warr Pavilion, working in partnership with Rother District Council, to begin urgent heritage conservation and capital works that safeguard the Grade I listed building and expand its role as a place for community, creativity and skills across the region and nationally.
The award marks a major milestone for the Pavilion’s 90th anniversary year and follows cornerstone significant investment from the UK Government and Rother District Council, alongside generous support from Arts Council England, East Sussex County Council, The Foyle Foundation, Suzy Eddie Izzard, The Chalk Cliff Trust and many private donors.
A new chapter for a ‘People’s Pavilion’
Commissioned in 1935 by the 9th Earl De La Warr and designed by pioneering architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, the Pavilion was envisioned as a “People’s Palace” an embodiment of modernist ideals of innovation, equality and cultural access. Nearly a century later, it remains a beacon of creativity and social vision on the Bexhill seafront, welcoming more than 350,000 visitors each year.
However, after decades of exposure to the coastal environment, the Pavilion faces critical conservation challenges including roof leaks, corroding windows and ageing infrastructure that threaten both its fabric and its mission.
Designed by award-winning architects Haworth Tompkins with input from local people and delivered in partnership with RDC, Phase 1 of the masterplan will address these urgent heritage repairs while improving accessibility, creating new learning and community spaces, and embedding sustainability at every level.
Transforming heritage into opportunity
Building on significant investment from the UK government and additional support from Rother District Council this investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will unlock the Pavilion’s potential to serve as a regional driver for creativity, skills and regeneration by widening access to culture, generating local employment and strengthening Bexhill’s economy.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“This project will conserve and celebrate this modernist jewel, connecting the community and visitors to the heritage of one of Britain’s most important modernist landmarks as it celebrates its 90th Birthday.
“It will improve accessibility to the building and provide opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in heritage, learn new creative skills and be part of the journey to bring this internationally significant building to life for generations to come.
“Thanks to National Lottery players our funding will support the first stage of the restoration of the De La Warr Pavillion. It will shine a light on its architectural and social history, securing its place as a vibrant creative hub to build pride in place and make sure heritage is cared for and sustained for everyone now and in the future.”
Stewart Drew, CEO and Director of the De La Warr Pavilion, said:
“This award is a transformational moment for the Pavilion and for Bexhill. The Pavilion has always been more than a building. It was created as a bold symbol of progress, a space where architecture, culture and community come together. This project is about protecting that vision, while transforming the Pavilion to meet the challenges of the future – from sustainability to social impact. Our aim is to secure the Pavilion’s place as an iconic cultural hub for the Southeast for the next 100 years. We are profoundly grateful to National Lottery players for making this possible.”
Doug Oliver, Leader of Rother District Council, said:
“The De La Warr Pavilion is at the heart of our cultural and civic identity. This ambitious project protects a nationally important modernist icon while creating new opportunities for our residents, transforming valued heritage into a place for skills, jobs, creativity, and wellbeing. Rother District Council is proud to stand alongside our partners in ensuring the Pavilion not only honours its remarkable heritage, but also drives progress, sustainability, and prosperity for future generations.”
About the project – Phase 1 key focus areas
• Heritage conservation – Repairing roofs, windows and building fabric to safeguard the Pavilion’s Grade I-listed architecture.
• Access and inclusion – Improving accessibility, circulation and facilities for visitors, artists and staff.
• Learning and community – Creating new spaces for creative learning, skills training and community engagement.
• Sustainability – Introducing low-carbon heating infrastructure, renewable energy systems and water efficiency measures to support Net Zero targets.
• Organisational resilience – Strengthening the Pavilion’s capacity to deliver world-class cultural and learning programmes sustainably.
• Creativity and activity – Working with communities and partners to deliver heritage focused creative programming locally.
Jay Carroll, Chair of Heart of Sidley, said:
“Heart of Sidley is thrilled to continue our partnership with the De La Warr Pavilion through this The National Lottery Heritage Fund support. The funding will help us bring creative and heritage focused opportunities directly to our community and ensure local voices play an important part in the future of the Pavilion.”
Next steps
Some advance works will begin in 2026; however, the De La Warr Pavilion will still present a full programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year. Details of a starting date for the main building works are still to be confirmed but DLWP intends to remain partially open throughout the construction period to engage visitors and support local businesses. The completion of extensive works in Phase 1 will pave the way for the full £51.9 million masterplan (DLWP is seeking further funding to complete phases 2 & 3), ensuring that the Pavilion can thrive as an international cultural landmark and community anchor for the next 100 years.
The De La Warr Pavilion is proud to announce the unveiling of a special logo to mark its 90th anniversary in 2025, created by internationally acclaimed designer Tom Geismar, celebrated for his pioneering work in the field of graphic design.
The commission has a special connection to the Pavilion’s history: Tom Geismar was creative partner of Ivan Chermayeff, the son of Serge Chermayeff, who, together with Erich Mendelsohn, designed the modernist De La Warr Pavilion in 1935. This link between past and present makes the new anniversary logo especially meaningful as the Pavilion approaches its centenary with plans for physical and organisational transformation underway.
Born in 1932, the same year the Pavilion competition was announced, Ivan Chermayeff later created the logo for its 80th anniversary. He passed away in 2017, but his work continues to inspire designers around the world. His long-time collaborator, Tom Geismar, also born in the 1930s and a pioneering force on Madison Avenue in the 1950s and ’60s, remains a remarkable presence in the design industry. Now 94, Tom is still practising in New York, a living testament to a lifetime of creativity, innovation, and dedication to his craft. Together they created identities for many high-level American cultural institutions; MOMA, The Smithsonian, National Geographic, NBC, The Library Congress and many more.
Geismar’s sleek and streamlined design captures the Pavilion’s modernist spirit while offering a fresh, contemporary emblem for its next chapter. The anniversary logo will feature prominently across the Pavilion’s celebratory programme and products.
“It was a pleasure to do this for the De La Warr Pavilion. The Chermayeff family have been so influential in my life and the pavilion in its physical manifestation reflects to me the bold, clear and creative design approach of Serge, Ivan and Peter. A remarkable family.”
– Tom Geismar, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv
The unveiling of the logo marks the beginning of a year-long celebration that will bring together audiences, artists, and communities to reflect on and celebrate 90 years of innovation, architecture, and culture at the De La Warr Pavilion.
For more information about the Pavilion’s programme, visit What’s On.
For more information about Tom Geismar visit cghnyc.com.
At De La Warr Pavilion, we believe creativity belongs not just in our exhibitions and performances, but in our workplaces and communities. That’s why we launched Talent Accelerator, helping connect young people with the skills, opportunities, and confidence to build creative careers. Here Kim Byford, our Head of Skills, shares some of the ways we are doing this.
Photo by Matthew Harmer
Young Promoters saw local young people learn first-hand how to stage live events from booking artists and marketing shows to running them on the night. For one participant, it was a turning point showing them future possibilities.
“I never thought I’d be able to organise something like this. Being part of the Young Promoters gave me confidence and made me realise I want to work in music production.”
We’ve seen the impact of Artswork Breakthrough, which supports young people facing barriers to education or employment. Maddie joined us through this programme and has since blossomed into an emerging leader as our Creative Opportunities Producer (Skills).
Behind these individual journeys is a bigger picture.
DLWP sits on the Local Skills Improvement Board and Skills East Sussex, where we co-chair the Creative, Cultural, Digital, and Media Task Force. This means we can make sure the needs of the creative industries – and opportunities for young people – are front and centre in the skills agenda. We’re also proud to be an East Sussex Careers Hub Cornerstone Employer, working with schools to bring real-world career experiences into classrooms.
And we’re not stopping at county borders. Through Coastal Catalyst, we’re linking up with partners across Sussex to build a joined-up approach to skills, culture, and opportunity along the coast. For young people, that means clearer pathways into training and jobs; for communities, it means creativity is recognised as a driver of local pride and prosperity.
Rother District Council has unanimously granted planning permission and listed building consent for the De La Warr Pavilion Masterplan, launching this major capital project to transform heritage for community, creativity & skills.
The De La Warr Pavilion, one of the UK’s most celebrated modernist icons, has today received resolution from the Council’s planning committee for planning and listed building consent to be granted for a landmark capital project that will both preserve its iconic heritage and transform it for future generations. The formal decision notices are now awaited.
This milestone follows months of consultation and detailed planning, with the project designed to protect the Pavilion’s Grade I listed status while also unlocking new opportunities for culture, learning, and community use.
The Pavilion, which marks its 90th birthday in December 2025 now looks ahead to its centenary in 2035. The ‘People’s Pavilion’ was founded on radical modernist ideals of creativity, community and social progress and this new capital project will ensure that those founding principles remain at the heart of the building’s future.
Sir Anthony Gormley OBE, internationally renowned sculptor and honorary patron: “The De La Warr Pavilion is unique. The reborn Pavilion will enable a wider experience of art in all its forms for the residents of Bexhill and many from further afield. Here is a place where art and life come together for mutual inspiration – bravo!”
The capital project is being delivered in partnership with Rother District Council. Designed in phases, by award winning architect Haworth Tomkpins, the scheme ensures the Pavilion can remain partially open throughout the conservation works. The applications were co-ordinated by planning consultants, Lichfields and propose more than a restoration project: it is about people and communities, memory and creativity, welcome and belonging. It is about expanding access, education, and opportunity in an area where they are limited, while safeguarding the Pavilion’s cultural, social, and architectural heritage for future generations.
Haworth Tompkins Director Lucy Picardo said: “The approval of the planning and listed building consent applications marks an important step forward in the journey to secure the De La Warr Pavilion’s long-term future. We look forward to continuing our close work with Rother District Council, DLWP, and the wider community as the project progresses.”
The capital works will focus on:
Heritage conservation – safeguarding the Pavilion’s Grade I-listed architecture, enhancing accessibility, improving the visitor experience, and growing and sharing its archive and unique social history.
Community engagement – expanding opportunities for local residents to be part of the story through co-created programmes, creative activities, volunteering, and archiving/storytelling projects that celebrate the Pavilion’s role in local life.
Cultural leadership – reinforcing the Pavilion’s role as a leading multi-arts and cultural centre for the South East, delivering transformative creative, participatory, and social experiences that strengthen wellbeing, creativity, and community cohesion.
Sustainability – improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting Bexhill and Rother District Council’s Net Zero targets, through renewable energy and low-carbon heating improvements.
Driving regional growth – the Pavilion contributes significantly to the local economy, supporting jobs, tourism and skills development across Sussex, and the project will further strengthen its role in driving growth and opportunity across the Southeast.
Doug Oliver, Leader of Rother District Council: “The De La Warr Pavilion is a cornerstone of our cultural and civic identity. This ambitious project protects a nationally important modernist icon while creating new opportunities for our residents, transforming valued heritage into a place for skills, jobs, creativity, and wellbeing. Rother District Council is proud to stand alongside our partners in ensuring the Pavilion not only honours its remarkable heritage, but also drives progress, sustainability, and prosperity for future generations.”
The masterplan project has secured £17m from the UK Government as part of a partnership with Heart of Sidley to conserve the Pavilion and create a new community hub in Sidley delivering impactful cultural-led regeneration for Bexhill. Other funders have pledged support including Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund (development grant), East Sussex County Council, The Chalk Cliff Trust, Foyle Foundation and life-long supporter Suzy Eddie Izzard but there is still a significant fundraising target to complete the full scheme.
Stewart Drew, CEO and Artistic Director of the De La Warr Pavilion: “The Pavilion has always been more than a building. It was created as a bold symbol of progress, a space where architecture, art and community come together. This project is about protecting that vision, while transforming the Pavilion to meet the challenges of the future – from sustainability to social impact. Our aim is to secure the Pavilion’s place as an iconic cultural hub for the South East for the next 100 years.”
Over 50 years ago, during the summer of 1972, a young Bob Marley took to our stage here at the De La Warr Pavilion for what would become his very first UK performance.
At the time, Marley was still in the early stages of his journey to global fame. He was touring the UK as a supporting act for the acclaimed singer Johnny Nash, whose hit I Can See Clearly Now was dominating the charts. The concert in Bexhill was a special benefit gig, organised by the Bexhill Lions to raise money for Glyne Gap School’s swimming pool fund.
For many in the audience, this night was their very first encounter with Marley’s revolutionary sound, a powerful blend of reggae, ska, and soul. Few could have predicted that this young musician, standing on a seaside stage in Sussex, would go on to become one of the most influential cultural icons of all time.
EXPLORE THE STORY ON BBC SOUNDS
The incredible history of this event and many fascinating hidden stories across Sussex are being brought to life in the Secret Sussex podcast from BBC Sounds.
In a new episode, the podcast dives into Marley’s legendary 1972 performance right here at the Pavilion, offering a closer look at when history was made on our stage.
As we mark Black History Month, we are proud to reflect on moments like this – when the Pavilion became a part of a much bigger story. From Bob Marley’s first steps onto a UK stage to the diverse performances and exhibitions we host today, the De La Warr Pavilion continues to be a space for voices that inspire and unite communities.
