Partners – ROSA Magazine

Partners

Headline Sponsor: West Dean

ROSA is pleased to announce West Dean 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.”

Associate Sponsor: King & McGaw

King & McGaw is an art publisher and online retailer. It supplies high quality art prints and products to museums, galleries and retail stores as well as art prints direct to consumers through its online retail site.

Associate Sponsor: Newlands House Gallery

Newlands House occupies an 18th century townhouse in the centre of
Petworth, a beautiful market town in the heart of the South Downs.
Comprising 12 rooms spread over 7,500 sq. ft. the gallery stages
world-class exhibitions focused on the great artists of the 20th and
21st centuries. Sussex Craft Week is pleased to announce that the
gallery will host and curate the first Sussex Craft Awards exhibition.

Hospitality Partner: The Bell in Ticehurst

In the heart of the Sussex village of Ticehurst stands The Bell, a large Tudor coaching inn. The Bell has been serving patrons and hosting celebrations for 500 years, and installed throughout its historic buildings is an extraordinary art and craft collection. Works by megastars, such as Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin, Gilbert & George, Banksy, and Graham Sutherland, hang alongside those of local artists and makers. Each of its seven rooms – all featuring original works of art and craft – has been curated around a theme that is drawn out through hand-painted walls and bespoke furniture.

The Bell runs an eclectic programme of comedy, art, music and creativity. In their own words: “Our aim is to lift your spirits and explore the yet unknown.” For Sussex Craft Week, The Bell is curating an exhibition of work around the theme of Midsummer’s Eve, plus craft lodges and artist lunches, as well as hosting a series of workshops in association with Curious House.

thebellinticehurst.com

Wine Partner: Highweald Wine Estate

Highweald Wine Estate was established in 2016, with the planting of 120,000 vines in the beautiful Sussex High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With an ambition to “create the finest sparkling wine with no compromises”, its first release – the Highweald Brut Reserve NV – was awarded Best Wine in First Year of Production, the English Sparkling Trophy and the Non-Vintage English Sparkling Trophy at the 2022 International Wine Challenge.

Highweald offers visitors vineyard tours and tasting sessions (bookable ahead) and has an outdoor Garden Bar boasting stunning views, that are open to all on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm. Craftsmen themselves, and coming from a long line of artisans, the people at Highweald are supporters of the wider craft industry and are kindly sponsoring events including the Sussex Craft Awards.

highwealdwine.com

Makers Partner: The Makers Directory

Founded in 2021, The Makers Directory is a comprehensive, searchable online directory of artists and makers in the Lewes-Eastbourne district of East Sussex. The directory covers a wide range of disciplines, enabling buyers to connect with and commission makers. They state: “We are here to celebrate and promote the local makers in the astonishingly creative patch of Sussex.”

Co-founder and director, Corina Buckwell, has been a key consultant for Sussex Craft Week, making connections with the top craftsmen and women in the region, co-organising and sponsoring the Studio Safari series and Sussex Craft Awards.

themakersdirectory.co.uk

Craft Awards Partner: Tutton & Young

Jon Tutton and Sarah Young are legends in the Sussex art and craft scene, having launched the very first art and designer-maker fairs in the region over 20 years ago. The company continues to run high-end contemporary art, craft, and design events across the UK, including the popular MADE Brighton, MADE London and Brighton Art Fair, all based from their HQ, Atelier Beside the Sea, a gallery, shop and workshop located on Brighton beach. Jon Tutton has acted as an advisor for Sussex Craft Week and is co-curating and judging The Sussex Craft Awards.

tuttonandyoung.co.uk