Enjoy another chance to view the highly popular festival sketches exhibition.
As we continue to celebrate our 10th year of operations, we’re delighted to throw open the doors of the festival sketches exhibition again on 27th-28th June, 12-3pm, during the @towngrown #EdibleOpenGardens weekend.
Alongside the garden planting and soundscapes in the log stores, view 6000 children’s sketches inspired by John Agard’s My Name Is BOOK, illustrated by Neil Packer. The drawings are exhibited in ceiling to floor scrolls, scrapbooks, cardboard automata and illuminated shadow exhibits.
Venue directions on the news page of the #ATownExploresABook web site and in the Edible Open Gardens map to be published soon.
Well done to the 4 festival young creative writers who were selected as overall winners this year.
Their imaginative words inspired new music compositions ‘Talking Book’, ‘Follow The Pen’, ‘Crystal Cover’, and ‘The Book That Gets Revenge’ which were performed in the festival opening event.
@countusin_communitymusic are excited to report that these pieces will be recorded this term so that they can be enjoyed some more!🎶
📷: one of the fantastic overall winners photographed by @gurt_burg
Throw back to 26th March at the opening of the #ATownExploresABook26 festival kindly hosted by @chchstleonards and kindly supported by @hastings247 .
This year 60 children performed music inspired by the book choice funded by @youthmusicuk through the @explorethearch@countusin_communitymusic programme.
Creative Writing Competition certificates were awarded in the culmination of the festival schools programme supported by Sussex Community Foundation.
Congratulations to all the children, parents and teachers involved in such a joyous celebration. It was fun, fun, fun📚🎉
Read more about the festival on the news page of our web site, link in profile.
📷: @gurt_burg
Congratulations to #ATownExploresABook26 shortlisted young creative writers. Hip, hip, hurray🎉
This year’s shortlisted writers, runners up and winners and their families from each festival school were presented with #ATownExploresABook certificates at the festival opening event on 26 March, kindly hosted by @chchstleonards . The @4courtsconnect community selected from the many entries and awarded certificates.
Thanks so much to @sussexcommunityfoundation for supporting the schools strand of the festival which connects up reading, writing and fun in the creative exploration of heritage.
Writing this year was inspired by #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK.
📷: @gurt_burg
Ready to collect!
Children who made clay tablets in the festival workshop @themudworks can collect their fired artwork on 24th April. The studio is open until 5pm! Thanks to #TheMudworks and well done everyone.📚🎉
#TheHouseofSketches has been a highlight in the #ATownExploresABook26 festival. Built from the 6000 sketches children created as they explored #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK in the festival assemblies, it champions drawing as a vibrant way to engage with books.
“These exquisite sketches are fascinating as they demonstrate how we think differently. Responding to the same point in the book, children’s creativity has taken them in many different directions in that moment which I love.” Exhibition viewer.
Keep an eye out for more chances to see the exhibition in May as we continue to mark the 10th year of the festival.
The #ATownExploresABook festival schools strand has been supported by @sussexcommunityfoundation . @4courtsconnect community participants curated the exhibition with @explorethearch ’s early career team. Thanks to @studioriley_ who supported with exhibition resources.
📷: We enjoyed welcoming @fimcgarry of @hastingsindependent to the exhibition. She chatted with the early career team members @gurt_burg , @joenewland_ and @merle.hsindall who have led festival operations. Last photo supplied by @joenewland_ snapping the fun in the interactivity.
Happy memories of our 10th year. @zoomarts.stleonardsonsea offered a draw on the wall alongside their art responding to #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK.
📷: 3rd image is artwork by Toni Sheppard, 4th image features artwork by Nick Hill.
#ATownExploresABook26
#StLeonardsOnSea
#ExploreABook
10th Year Exuberance
As we close the 10th year of the #ATownExploresABook festival we are confidently youth-led.
Our reader-led community arta festival in #StLeonardsOnSea has been funded by @sussexcommunityfoundation and @hastings247 in 2926. Thanks so much to these organisations for helping to bring the community together in fun free creative exploration📚🤸🏽♀️🎉
It’s the last day of the #ATownExploresABook26 festival: Sunday 12th April.
The school term restarts tomorrow and we put #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK illustrated by Neil Packer back on the shelf.
Please share what you have enjoyed about the 10th year of this reader-led community arts festival in #StLeonardsOnSea, #EastSussex!
📷: one of the fantastic 2026 #ATownExploresABook festival ambassadors
“This year’s #ATownExploresABook festival has been amazing…”
Thank you @forageandfleurfloristry@passmustertrading@sugarpiehoneybunscoffeeshop and Kings Chip shop for hosting St Pauls C E Academy’s responses to #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK illustrated by Neil Packer.
Linda of Pass Muster Trading shares how enjoyable the experience has been. Neil Packer’s images have been hugely impactful in this exploration of the history of books.
#ATownExploresABook2026
#StLeonardsOnSea
#EastSussex
Thanks to everyone who’s visited the House of Sketches and explored the 6000 children’s drawings inspired by #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK and films of early career facilitators @gurt_burg@merle.hsindall and @joenewland_ by @roadfactoryfilms .
This festival exhibition, supported by @sussexcommunityfoundation continues to 12th April, open daily 11am-2pm.
Thank you to staff from Ashmole Primary School, Christ Church CE Primary Academy, Dudley Infant Academy, Robsack Wood Primary Academy, Mulberry Silverdale Academy, St Pauls CE Academy, Torfield School and Vauxhall Primary School for collaborating on this exciting journey.
The exhibition is curated by @4courtsconnect participants with the @explorethearch team. Thanks to @studioriley_ for support with exhibition furniture.
Enjoy the festival window displays and @zoomarts.stleonardsonsea ’s exhibition as well - so much to do! Explore a book creatively in #StLeonardsOnSea during the school spring holiday.
#EastSussex
#ExploreABook
We approach the final weekend of the #ATownExploresABook26 festival in #StLeonardsOnSea.
Find @universitycentrehastings ’ BA illustration and graphics students’ response to #JohnAgard’s #MyNameIsBOOK at Archer Lodge on Charles Road. The artwork facilitated by @peterquinnellart welcomes viewers to the sketches exhibition open daily 11am-2pm until the close of the festival.
Festival web site what’s on page has details of all remaining events, link in @atownexploresabook profile.
#AlphabetInnovation
#ATownExploresABook
#EastSussex
#ExploreABook
