Arts & Culture

Creative people are drawn to Sussex and have been for centuries. Many of the world’s best loved images and cherished tales were influenced and shaped in this area of South East England. Happily Sussex continues to excite and inspire contemporary culture. 

To walk in Sussex is to tread in the footsteps of Rudyard Kipling, A.A. Milne, Virginia Woolf and Henry James; to see sights that inspired J.M.W Turner, George Stubbs, Eric Ravillious, Duncan Grant and Lee Miller.

Their spirit remains, embodied by world class opera at Glyndebourne; architectural gems like the modernist  De La Warr Pavilion and stunning art collections at Pallant House, Brighton Museum, the Towner and Cass Sculpture Foundation to name only a few.

Important collections of art can also be seen in the historic houses Petworth, Goodwood and Parham. Brighton Museum has a world-renowned collection of 20th century decorative arts, including Arts & Crafts pewter by Liberty, Art Nouveau chairs by Thonet, and Art Deco glass by Lalique, while Ditchling Museum features the work of former resident Eric Gill.

Chichester Festival Theatre and Brighton’s Theatre Royal provide a lively performance mix and excuses to indulge in pre-theatre suppers. Brighton hosts England’s biggest arts festival and there are open house and fringe events across the whole of East and West Sussex, as well as year round festivities which encompass tasty, feisty and plain crazy. That’s how we like it in Sussex – a voyage of celebration and fun. You will too.

If you're looking for festivals to attend, cultural days out, or nights to remember, CultureSussex  is the definitive website providing information on a range of performances and events across both West and East Sussex.