News
July 2026
Sussex Craft Awards’ 2026 Winners Announced
The Sussex Craft Awards 2026 overall winners were announced at a private reception at Newlands House Gallery on 2 July, on a wonderfully balmy evening enjoyed by the finalists and their guests. The awards celebrate three exceptional makers, whose work represents the very best of contemporary and heritage craft across Sussex.
The Sussex Craft Awards 2026 winner is Caron Penney, who receives a solo exhibition at Newlands House Gallery. The ROSA Prize was given to Ellen Svenningsen, who receives a cover artist slot and in-depth feature in ROSA Magazine. Studio Amos won the Heritage Prize alongside future exhibition opportunities.
The Sussex Craft Awards form part of Sussex Craft Week’s mission to champion makers, connect audiences with contemporary craft, and raise the profile of Sussex as a national centre for excellence in craft. See the Sussex Craft Awards 2026: The Finalists exhibition at Newlands House Gallery until 20 July 2026 with free entrance.
June 2026
Sussex Craft Awards announces 12 finalists
Newlands House Gallery will present the Sussex Craft Awards 2026: The Finalists exhibition from 20 June – 20 July 2026, bringing together 12 of the region’s most accomplished craftspeople in a celebration of making, material innovation and artistic excellence. Spanning ceramics, millinery, furniture, jewellery, woodcarving, basketry, and mixed-media practice, the exhibition offers a compelling snapshot of contemporary craft in Sussex today.
Selected by an expert judging panel from craftspeople nominated by the public, the 12 finalists represent the extraordinary breadth of talent that has made Sussex one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for craft and design. See more information on our Awards page.
March 2026
Sussex Craft Week launches ‘Craft Towns’
Two pop up ‘Craft Town’s are to be set up for the 2026 festival: Arundel and Alfriston. In each instance, businesses in the towns present the work of highly skilled crafts makers in their windows and premises to reveal the extent of talent in the region and celebrate heritage and hand craft. Makers who would like to be considered to take part should apply as a ‘Sussex Maker’.
March 2026
Studio Safari Programme
Following on from its success last year, the Studio Safari Programme is to be expanded for 2026 with themed tours in the pipeline. Organised by The Makers Directory, the Studio Safaris bring visitors into the rarely opened workshops of celebrated makers with demonstrations and talks.
February 2026
Sussex Craft Week launches MarketPlace initiative to support makers
A new initiative, MarketPlace is to be launched as part of Sussex Craft Week 2026 to support regional makers. A showcase of works for sale are presented online to signpost visitors to where they can be bought in person during the festival. The works for sale include furniture, textiles, glass, ceramics, homeware, fashion, wood and metal work: all made by hand by local skilled professional makers. Headline events such as Hastings Craft Weekend present wide-ranging original craft MarketPlaces.
September 2025
Rosa Launches Botanical Art Fair
A new art fair focusing on flora in art and design will be held 1-4 May 2026 at
West Dean in Chichester. The fair, curated by ROSA (Review of Sussex Arts)
will include botanical art installations in the college’s historical rooms, a
marquee with stands for galleries on the grounds, and a spring sculpture
garden. The emphasis is on contemporary art in all media – painting,
photography, digital art, sculpture, ceramics, textiles along with horticulture
and floristry.
Potential partners are invited to read the partner deck here.
August 2025
Sussex Craft Makers Exhibit at England’s Medieval
Festival
ROSA (Review of Sussex Arts), organisers of Sussex Craft Week, were
invited to curate a ‘Heritage Craft Hall’ at England’s Medieval Festival over
the August bank holiday weekend. The event was a huge success with
participants exhibiting jewellery, book-binding, guilded artworks, rope-making,
print-making and embroidery. Reported sales were excellent with makers
having to bring in extra work to meet demand. Plans are underway for an
extended edition for 2026 with an emphasis on Sussex crafts, both heritage
and contemporary.
More details will be released soon. Enquiries for 2026
should be directed to jessica.wood@rosamagazine.co.uk
July 2025
Sussex Craft Week Report Published
A full report of the first edition of Sussex Craft Week has been published with
feedback from participants, visitors and organisers. You can read it here.
June 2025
Marc Fish Wins Sussex Craft Awards 2025
Artist Marc Fish is the overall winner of the first Sussex Craft Awards hosted
at Newlands House Gallery, Petworth June 2025.
Marc Fish creates sculptural pieces that push the limits of contemporary
furniture making, blurring the boundaries between design, sculpture and furniture. Fish’s studio is world renowned for the use of veneer as its sole raw material, and his work demonstrates an extensive mastery of the most refined
practices in micro stack-lamination. Each piece uses the finest veneers and
natural finishes, from gold to squid ink. Initially inspired by the curvilinear
forms of Art Nouveau, more recently he has explored the Victorian obsession
with natural history. Fish has exhibited worldwide, and created works for
international collectors, private clients and interior designers.
“I have a passion for creating one-off pieces, or short series, drawing on my
knowledge of craftsmanship and modern design processes. My works
possess a timelessness that enables them to sit comfortably in the most
contemporary of settings and the more traditional.”
Twelve Sussex artist-makers were selected for excellence in craft by a panel
including West Dean College, Newlands House Gallery, The Makers
Directory, High Weald Wine Estate and Tutton & Young.
Newlands House Gallery will host a solo show of work by Marc Fish in 2026.
May 2025
The Craft Landscape Of Sussex At The V&A
Sussex Craft Week director, Jessica Wood was invited to speak at an
international conference titled ‘The Wind from Craft Town’ at the V&A
Museum, joining speakers from Hong Kong and China as well as Farnham
Craft Town and Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. Her talk ‘The Craft
Landscape of Sussex’ mapped out the the region as a home of heritage craft
and a hub for the contemporary craft revival.
10 April 2025
Craft Courses with Sussex makers
ROSA Magazine is pleased to launch a series of courses and demonstrations as part of the Sussex Craft Week programme. Intended to lift the mood, educate and inspire, participants will have the opportunity to learn the foundations for a number of contemporary and heritage disciplines.
Craft is proven to have a positive effect on wellbeing, with many studies, including in an article published by the New Scientist last year, suggesting that it boosts overall wellbeing more than employment. The multi-sensory nature of craft makes it both a mindful and pro-active activity. The repetitive actions allow the mind to enter a ‘flow’ state, kickstarting happiness-inducing neurotransmitters, while also reducing stress hormones and creating feelings of satisfaction.
Sussex Craft Week will network visitors with Sussex makers from across the county, introducing craft to those looking to experience the many benefits which come from making. The courses will also celebrate local craft heritage, including a spotlight on endangered Sussex Heritage crafts such as the Sussex Trug.
Sign up to a course in willow weaving, book binding or collage at the stylish coaching inn, The Bell in Ticehurst; medieval ironwork, jewellery, woodcut printing, glass engraving or natural dyeing at the renowned West Dean College; sculpting in a beautiful barn in Friston; stone carving at the famous Skelton workshops in Streat; or children’s clay and raku workshops in Eastbourne.
Book on to a course via the Sussex Craft Week programme.
17 Feb 2025
ROSA is pleased to announce West Dean College as the headline sponsor for Sussex Craft Week.
West Dean has been at the vanguard of championing arts and crafts since its inception in 1971. West Dean now provides a variety of cutting-edge degree and diploma programmes designed to equip students to excel in a variety of industries. Alongside these qualifications, the college also runs over 800 creative short courses spanning a plethora of disciplines from printmaking to blacksmithing and everything in between.
Francine Norris, Principal and Deputy Chief Executive, said “Sussex Craft Week embodies West Dean’s founding mission to protect and promote the practice of craft. Sussex has an extensive history within the craft movement and remains a vibrant centre for contemporary makers to this day. We are excited to work in partnership with ROSA on this important project.”
Photos: Thom Atkinson
Sussex Craft Week
20-28 June 2026
Tel: + 44 (0)1273 473227
office@sussexcraftweek.com
ROSA (Review of Sussex Arts CIC)
Phoenix House, 32-33 North Street
Lewes, East Sussex
BN7 2QJ
Company number 13431217