Eastbourne Art Galleries

(Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK)

The arts scene in Eastbourne is quite reasonable, although there really are only a handful of galleries that are noteworthy. Each year in April, the Eastbourne Artists Open Houses and Studios takes place over three consecutive weekends and allows visitors to gain a better insight into the lives of local artists.

A leading museum of art in Eastbourne, the Towner Gallery was founded in 1923 and formerly occupied a beautiful 18th-century house within the Manor Gardens. However, in the spring of 2009, the Towner was relocated to a new purpose-built contemporary building on College Road, close to the Congress Theatre. The Musgrave Collection is also worth a look and enjoys an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures.

Towner Gallery

Address: Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4JJ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 434660
The Towner Collection is of an exceptional standard and is made up of more than 4,000 art works, many of which have been bequeathed to the gallery and include abstract, contemporary, expressionist and more traditional canvasses. Particularly notable are the pieces by the likes of David Bomberg, Henry Moore, Joseph Wright of Derby, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Pablo Picasso and Wolfgang Tillmans, amongst innumerable further acclaimed artists. Further onsite attractions include a cafe bar offering breathtaking views across the Downs, various workshops, and a shop selling a range of art-related merchandise, posters and prints.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Musgrave Collection

Address: 77 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3PL, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 648106
Enjoying international acclaim the Musgrave Collection operates as both a museum and art gallery. Especially intriguing are the paintings depicting local scenes and landscapes, created by acclaimed Sussex artist George Musgrave - the museum's inspirational founder and collector. Opened in 1983, when it was originally situated within the nearby market town of Heathfield, the Musgrave Collection soon moved to Brighton and then in the mid-1990s, was once again relocated, only this time to the Royal Parade on the seafront of Eastbourne. In 2003, the museum finally moved to its present home on Seaside Road, where it recently featured in the much-celebrated BBC documentary 'What Did You Do In The Great War, Daddy?'. As well as its multitude of art works, the museum is also well known for its archaeological treasures, British and Roman coins, exquisite diorama, ancient documents, communications timeline, and miniature figures.
Open hours: April to October, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: free


Popular commercial art galleries currently operating in Eastbourne include the following selection:

Bright Ideas Gallery
Address: 4 The Waterfront, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 5UZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 471080

Eastbourne Fine Art
Address: 9 Meads Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7QY, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 725634

Nigel Greaves Gallery
Address: Compton Street, 9 Grand Hotel Buildings, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4EJ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 638268

Henry Paddon Contemporary Art
Address: 113 South Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4LU, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 411887

Webster Gallery
Address: 13 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3HH, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 735753