Art as superpower: How Hastings harnesses creativity to build resilient communities

Hastings, on the coast in East Sussex, has long been a source of creative inspiration, with artists such as Turner, Whistler and Rossetti spending time here, inspired by its rugged coastline, atmospheric conditions and vibrant artistic community.

More recently the area has hosted renowned artists such as Eugene Palmer and Laetitia Yhap, and it is home to Project Arts Works, Home Live Art, Hastings Contemporary and organisations such as Playing The Race Card, Big Yin Gallery and Afri-co-lab– all doing incredible work centring global majority creativity.

While Hastings has a vibrant cultural community with multiple festivals celebrating its rich history, it is not without its challenges. Hastings is among the most deprived areas in England. In 2019, it was ranked 13^th most deprived local authority area out of 317^. and, sadly, this deprivation is increasing annually.

Hastings’ close proximity to the capital and its position by the Channel contribute to an ever-evolving demographic. As a region, the South East attracts considerable migration – second only to London for international migration in the UK – with net arrivals to East Sussex being at their highest ever level in 2023.

The Refugee Buddy Project

So how do diverse communities in Hastings come together and support each other, particularly in this current climate of hostility? The answer seems to lie in Hastings’ rich artistic heritage, and a trailblazing charity that is doing unprecedented work to enable friendships and build solidarity through creativity.

The Refugee Buddy Project, a refugee and migrant-led charity founded in 2017 by Rossana Leal, lies at the heart of support for those seeking refuge and safety in Hastings. Leal founded it based on her personal experiences, shaped by her Chilean upbringing – where art and music were integral to daily life – and the heartfelt welcome her family received in Scotland when they arrived as refugees in the 1970s.

The charity pioneers peer-led collaborative programmes which foster a culture of welcome uniting people through food, culture and storytelling. Believing in the transformative power of art, the charity has participated in Refugee Week from its inception and now delivers major arts and cultural programmes for the festival annually.

Refugee Week

Refugee Week was established over quarter of a century ago by Counterpoints Arts and is now an annual global festival celebrating the contributions and creativity of refugees. It serves as an open platform with major institutions like Tate, Southbank Centre, Norwich Arts Centre and Arnolfini among past contributors.

Wider engagement, however, from galleries and arts organisations across the country remains surprisingly limited. Yet, in East Sussex, The Refugee Buddy Project is leading the way, developing partnerships with institutions such as De La Warr Pavilion and Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, building long term programmes that culminate and are celebrated in Refugee Week annually.

Refugee Week is a standout in Hastings’ festival calendar, offering a vast inclusive public arts programme including workshops, film screenings, performances, street art, open mics etc. Thoughtfully curated, the events are shaped by a deep criticality and sensitivity, ensuring the voices and experiences of those seeking refuge remain at its heart.

Since 2022, the local arts community has played an increasingly active role and conversations with local artists about how to highlight the struggles of those arriving by boat inspired an annual creative call to action.

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Stitch for Change artists at the De La Warr Pavilion

Stitch for Change

One project, Stitch for Change, draws inspiration from Chilean arpilleras (embroidered patchwork tapestries originating in Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship). As a child, Rossana Leal – having been raised in the 1970s Chilean solidarity movement – travelled to London to commemorate Chile’s coup d’état of 11 September, 1973.

She recalls how singing, chanting and poetry helped Chileans process the chaos they had endured. At the heart of these gatherings was a powerful textile artwork by Artists for Democracy (founded by Cecilia Vicuña et al) depicting their collective narrative.

Stitch for Change builds on this legacy, providing a platform for participants to reflect on their journeys and express their narratives in their own words through patchwork, sewing and embroidery storytelling. Artworks created were showcased in a vibrant fashion show and exhibition at De La Warr Pavilion in 2024.

Other standout projects have included And they were you at Electro Studios Project Space with work by photographer Nour El-Din; showcases by the Young Creatives Collective; mural work by artist Abraham.O; Wild Clay workshop at Common Clay Studio and a spoken word event led by Story Time.

As mainstream media and political leaders continue to blame the most vulnerable for economic failures, these projects create inclusive spaces where the community can come together, listen to one another, recognise shared struggles and discover the power of collective unity.

Tangible impact

It is commonplace, as cultural workers, to separate our audiences when programming engagement, striving to align with different needs and interests. However, Refugee Week highlights a framework of how cultural spaces can have tangible impact and build resilient communities through more open inclusive programming.

Alongside this, organisations like The Refugee Buddy Project require more support, funding and collaboration from the arts for them to continue their vital work. When the far-right riots escalated last summer, it was the people of Hastings, not the institutions who showed up to stand together and offer safety for each other.

This is the legacy being created by Refugee Week and it’s no wonder its theme for 2025 is Community as a Superpower. Leal hopes cultural institutions will take bolder stances, uphold their values with conviction, and become visibly safe, inclusive spaces. In these challenging times, art remains a vital force for unity.