Spotlight Events

South East Open Studios Celebrating 25 Years

Friday 3rd to Sunday 19th June

South East Open Studios is a real celebration of creativity, with up to 300

Artists & Makers taking part across Kent and East Sussex, it’s one of the biggest years to date. This annual event is the largest creative community across the

South East and is an opportunity for art lovers to meet Artist & Makers in their own environment, watch them Fri 3 to Sun 19 june demonstrate their skills and talk about their process and what inspires them. Stretching across Kent and East Sussex through countryside, coastline, villages, and towns, it’s a great way to explore the studios and meet talented creatives. www.seos-art.org

Wonderful Wetland Wildlife Week at Arundel Wetland Centre

Sat 28 May to Sun 5 June

Saturday 28th May to Sunday 5th June, 10am to 4.30pm New life is hatching out of the ponds and meadows this May at Arundel Wetland Centre. Half-term is Wonderful Wetland Wildlife week, so look out for wild ducklings wandering the reserve, butterflies flitting lush pathways and dragonflies zipping along the waterways.

Try a family pond dipping session to discover who lives underwater or book a boat safari with a wildlife guide to spot nesting warblers, fish below and raptors soaring above. Drop into the Discovery hides overlooking kingfisher’s nesting spot or to watch sand martins in flight.

The 65-acre wetland reserve has buggyfriendly level pathways and sturdy wooden boardwalks with wheelchair accessible areas. wwt.org.uk/arundel

The Maestro at St Georges in Kemp Town

Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st May at 7.30pm The Maestro, written by Duncan Hopper and Mike Wells is recommended as ‘exciting writing’ by the Scotsman. The production focuses on the life of the Italian Opera composer Donizetti and covers his outstanding life and the tragedy involved in it. He wrote over 65 Operas and excerpts from Elsir D’Amour and Don Pasquale are included sung by professional soprano Karen Orchin. She is joined by professional actors Robert Tremayne and Sophie Methuen- Turner. It will be a splendid evening... www.maestromagichour.com or book at Fringe Box online Programmes sold in aid of the Martlets

Thur 19 to Sat 21 May

Thur 14 to Sun 17 July Charleston’s Festival of the Garden

Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th July Charleston’s Festival of the Garden brings together today’s most pioneering gardeners, artists, writers and activists to explore our connection with the land, and the line between wilderness and cultivation, landscapes and gardens.

Enjoy four days of conversations, demonstrations and performances as we consider our imprint on the natural world and the future of growing.

With main events featuring Piet Oudolf, Claire Ratinon, Alys Fowler, Dara McAnulty, Fergus Garrett, Sam Lee, Tom StuartSmith, Isabella Tree and many more. Plus free, drop-in fringe events throughout the festival and plant stalls from quality, independent local growers.

Tickets on sale from 5th May at www.charleston.org.uk Charleston, Firle, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6LL

Saturday 28th May to Wednesday 1st June Learn the artistic techniques that children from the Victorian time would have been taught, dig for mosaic pieces or create an origami bookmark. Join sculptor Guy Portelli and have a go at painting in the plein air. Enter the painting competition and depict the castle or gardens in any style.

Discover different paintings of the Castle hidden in the gardens as part of an art trail or wander through the Castle and find out interesting facts about the paintings. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Tuesday 31st May & Wednesday 1st June, 10.30am to 4pm Ramble through the woodland paths and spy the Gruffalo amongst the trees! Explore the gardens, wildflower meadows and lakes. All activities are FREE - including pond dipping, Gruffalo games, magician, pooh sticks and craft activities along with your free goody bag, passport, nature and mouse trail maps. Bring a picnic or

Sat 28 May to Wed 1 June

Sat 28 May

Various dates

Petworth Festival Celebrates The Jubilee with Jubilation!

Saturday 28th May, 7.30pm In celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Petworth Festival is presenting a ‘Royal Variety Performance’ at Seaford College, Lavington Park, Petworth. A fabulous combination of ‘festival favourite’ artists will perform, including the multi-talented Joe Stilgoe, the superb young classical virtuoso that is Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and the riproaring jazz chanteuse, Liane Carroll. Presented by actor Trevor Eve, the evening promises to be a magnificent salute to the remarkable anniversary that is celebrated nationwide the following weekend. www.petworthfestival.org.uk Box Office: 01798 344576

High Beeches Woodland and Water Gardens

Open every day 1pm to 5pm except Wednesdays A glorious woodland and water garden of the Sussex Weald, High Beeches has been sensitively planted with many rare trees and shrubs to create a unique place of great beauty and tranquillity. In early summer the bluebell carpeted woodland glades are full of the colour and scent of the many Azaleas.

Later in June the beautiful ancient wildflower meadow is in full flower attracting butterflies and many other insects. Primulas line the streams and dragonflies skim the ponds. There are many wildflowers to be found and the rare Stuartias are in flower. The perfect place to spend some quiet time to reflect and connect with nature. www.highbeeches.com

Open every day except Wed

The ‘Drama of Nature’ at The Fittleworth Gallery

26th April to 22nd May Open Weds to Sat, 10am to 5pm The May exhibition explores how our artists interpret the drama and spectacle of landscape. Contemporary approaches by acclaimed artists such as Piers Ottey, Lisa Bartlett and Francis Knight mix comfortably with Postimpressionist masters like Cazot, Giradot and Rochegrosse. The Fittleworth Gallery, Lower Street, Fittleworth, RH20 1EJ www.fittleworthgallery.co.uk info@fittleworthgallery.co.uk 01798 865437

26 April to 22 May

Gruffalo - Fun in Framfield

Tue 31 May & Wed 1 June

buy drinks, cakes, ices or pizzas on the day. Earlybird tickets available online before 29th May are £10.00 - under 3yrs free. www.friendsofsussexhospices.org.uk or www.onlineticketseller.com Limited gate tickets £15.00. FREE Parking Framfield Grange, Framfield TN22 5PN

Celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at Hever Castle

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June

Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June See if you can find the Queen’s precious Corgis and spot what mischief they are getting up to as part of a free trail in the grounds. Take part in a hunt for the Queen’s crown and jewels in the Castle or see how many different queens and queen mothers you can find.

Enjoy the The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Trail, a specially designed augmented reality activity where players visit 7 characters that have ‘come to life’ from Buckingham Palace. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June

Horsham Museum & Art Gallery - Jubilee Weekend

Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June Horsham Museum is open across the Jubilee Weekend. Drop in to take part in our family activities and enjoy making coronation themed crafts to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Our new exhibition also opens this weekend, detailing the life of Percy Bysshe Shelley who was born in Warnham, near Horsham, and revealing his family links to the area. Entry to the museum and exhibition is free and activities are £1. No need to pre-book, for further information visit: www.horshammuseum.org or call: 01403 25459

Fri 13 to Sun 15 May Hilarious Outdoor Theatre with The Rudes

Don’t miss ‘Gods and Dogs’! Set in 2084, the story follows Tina who enters ‘Marriage Maker’, a ‘telepavision’ game show. The idea of the game is, if you win, you get to marry the super-glamorous footballer, Harry Best, on the Saturday, have a weekend of love, then divorce him on the Monday. ‘All the fun and no ties!’ Unfortunately, Tina falls in love when she wins and doesn’t want to divorce. Will she get her man? Will the Mind Police come? At various venues and dates, including a beautiful circus tent, across Sussex! www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk 01323 501260

Various dates

King’s Head Cacklebury’s Midsummer Music Festival

Friday 17th to Sunday 19th June We are a family and dog friendly traditional Harvey’s Pub in South Road, Hailsham. Join us for a weekend of live music in our beer garden, where we will be hosting a variety of local talent playing music from across the decades, so there should be something to appeal to everyone! Seating is limited so we suggest bringing a camp chair or picnic blanket. Food will be available to purchase from Urban Griller, the catering trailer in our car park throughout the event. FREE entry Please see website for updates and timings. www.kingsheadcacklebury.co.uk 01323 440447

Fri 17 to Sun 19 June

The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th May The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair returns to Petworth House & Park for its eighth annual showing. It won’t be long until the marquee goes up and some 60 exhibitors move in to offer buyers a wide array of desirable items from furniture, jewellery, sculpture, glass, lighting, photography, vintage watches and silver to paintings, drawings, ceramics, clocks, 20th century design objects, maps, prints, oriental carpets, tribal art, historical medals, aeronautica and many other decorative and unique works of art spanning the centuries. For a free ticket, usually £10, which also admits you to visit Petworth House, email sxl@adfl.co.uk. Further information at www.petworthparkfair.com