The Art of Chichester

Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted. Click here to book your visit.

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity explores the arts, culture and heritage of Chichester city centre and the district from 1962, when Chichester Festival Theatre opened, to the present day, embracing professional and amateur work across all art forms.

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity

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Curated by David Elliott, the exhibition tells the story of how the arts have put Chichester and surrounding areas on the map, including: 

• Chichester Festival Theatre - from its opening in 1962 to how it has become one of Britain's best-loved theatres. 
• Chichester Cathedral's enlightened arts programme - from Dean Walter Hussey's commissioning of works by Sutherland, Piper, Chagall and Bernstein to the innovatively curated exhibitions of the 21st Century. 
• Pallant House Gallery - with its prize-winning extension.
• The success of Chichester novelist Kate Mosse. 
• Chichester Cinema at New Park, who's successes include winning 'Film Society of the Year Award' in 1990. 
• The district's many festivals - including Chichester Festivities, Festival of Chichester and the current Culture Spark 2022. 
• A snapshot of some of Chichester's individual artists and makers. 
• The city and district's rich amateur arts scene, including its very active groups and societies full of energetic, creative individuals. 
• How Goodwood House, West Dean College, the Weald & Downland Living Museum and The Novium Museum have transformed the notion of heritage in the 21st Century. 
• Arts, culture and heritage across Chichester District - including Petworth and Midhurst.

The exhibition forms a key part of Culture Spark 2022 - an exciting season of events, performances, live entertainment and community projects being held to mark a momentous year of culture in Chichester District, including: 60 years of Chichester Festival Theatre; 40 years of Pallant House Gallery; 30 years of Chichester International Film Festival; 10 years of The Novium Museum and the Festival of Chichester, and 200 years of the Chichester Canal Trust. 

The exhibition has been made possible thanks to an Arts Council England Project Grant of £37,000, which will also enable an exciting programme of community and public engagement activities. These will include a series of art workshops for children led by practicing artists during the school summer holidays, a series of creative family days and a lecture series for adults. 

An accompanying book written by exhibition curator David Elliott, also entitled 'The Art of Chichester: 60 Years of Creativity' will be available to purchase from The Novium Museum's shop - both in store and online: Shop

The Art of Chichester is open from Saturday, 25 June and will run until 25 February 2023. Admission is free, with donations gratefully received.