Hastings in Stitches

Hastings In Stitches 2025

A new piece of work to celebrate the 30th birthday of the original piece created in 1995 and currently displayed in Hastings Town Hall.

In 1995 a community project called ‘Hastings in Stitches’ launched, a tapestry made up of 68 small panels of embroidery that delivered an art piece depicting 68 organisations. This piece was created by local embroidery and textiles makers with the organisations with the Women’s cooperative. The single pieces were joined together to make one tapestry that is displayed in the Hastings Town Hall in Hastings.

Arts on Prescription and the originator of this new piece are working alongside 68 organisations and 15 local Embroidery artists to create a new piece which will launch in September 2025 to celebrate the 30th Birthday of this incredible initiative and design.

“We wanted to celebrate this original piece of work, by recreating an updated version, that celebrates the incredible organizations of Hastings today and acknowledges the great work, support they offer to residents of the town. I was visiting the Town hall asking for information and support from the team and I noticed this incredible tapestry of embroidery and patchworking. On closer inspection I could see that each panel told the story of the organisation, many are long gone over the last 30 years, some are still operating, and the panel design was easy to recognise the organisation and for the work they still do to support the local community including St Michael’s Hospice”.

James Thomas – Retail & Hospitality Brand Consultant & Project Lead ‘Hastings In Stitches’

We will work with a further 68 organisations and multiple local Textile designers to create this new piece of work that not only highlights the organisations name but also captures the essence of the work that is achieved for the local community. The agencies will be selected by criteria including being local to Hastings and the final organisations agreed by Arts on Prescription team, Project Lead will start to create the new panels.

“When James approached Arts on Prescription to see if we would like to be a partner of this project, he had such enthusiasm for the original piece highlighting the original organisations that took part, we felt creating a new piece of work would be a fantastic way to acknowledge the organisations that shape the town. Thankfully the Arts Council England could see the aims of the project and shared our enthusiasm celebrating local organisations that support our local community”.

Tara Reddy Arts on Prescription Director

Those organisations taking part will be given the opportunity to choose a designer of choice who will design and create the piece of work, working alongside and coaching the organisations team on creating the piece. Arts on Prescription based in Alexander Park will facilitate the 68 panels to come to life. One of the organisations along with a designer remember the first piece created, both St Michaels Hospice and Claire Buckley were part of the original piece created in 1995.

“I was really pleased to be invited to be part of this project to revisit Hastings in Stitches to create a textile panel that represents our town community today. I was teaching at Hillcrest School (now Hastings Academy) when we made the first version. I know James was surprised when I said I was part of the original team. Now as a freelance Textile Artist it is great to be involved again and to see how the town has changed. Textiles are an important part of all our lives and there are so many creative people across the town that we should celebrate."

Claire Buckley Textile designer ‘Hastings in Stitches’ 1995 & 2025

‘St. Michael’s Hospice is thrilled to join the Hastings in Stitches project. As one of the original contributors to this wonderful initiative 30 years ago, we are excited to once again showcase and strengthen our long-standing commitment to our community. This project not only highlights the creativity and dedication of local artists but also brings together the people of Hastings in a shared celebration. Our involvement underscores our mission of supporting and enabling the community of Hastings and Rother to live well with dying, death, and loss’.

Kieran Mac Feely, Community Partnerships and Inclusion Lead, St. Michael's Hospice

Once all pieces are created, joined together to create one piece that will be framed by local business ‘Carbon Framing’ and will launch at the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, before it is displayed throughout Coastal Currents in September before settling into its new Home.

Not only do we have 68 organisations, 17 designers taking part but we also have local business Jacobs Haberdashery supporting the project with their knowledge and supplies of materials that will help create the piece of work.

Having run a local haberdashery for 30 years, we are so excited to contribute to the Hastings in Stitches 30th Birthday embroidery project, celebrating our community's creativity and the local organisations that support the people of our town. Craft is a fantastic way to bring people together and improve our well-being. This project is a wonderful showcase of local talent and community organisations. We look forward to seeing it come to life!

The Jacobs Family, Jacobs Haberdashery ~ Hastings Russell Street

The plaque displayed with the piece of work will highlight all organisations, designers and partners, this display in turn will form part of the legacy of the towns rich and diverse organisations and creative makers.

“Cllr Glenn Haffenden deputy leader of Hastings Borough council and lead member for housing and community wellbeing said – ‘We are looking forward to seeing the anniversary of this incredible project come to life over the next few months. Our local organisations do so much to support the local people of Hastings, offering support and services and this piece of work will recognise their achievements. I’d like to thank them for taking part and thanks also to the designers who are bringing this to life alongside Arts on Prescription’.

Cllr Glenn Haffenden & deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council

We will photograph each piece of work for the legacy of the town and the piece will be displayed at the Hastings Museum & Art gallery for its launch on Tuesday 26th August, when it will be present for two weeks as part of the Coastal Currents Arts Festival in the first two weeks of September until it settles in its home at the Hastings Town Hall. We’d like to thank Hastings Borough Council for its support and Arts Council England who believe in the project and the incredible organisations that support this town.

Helena Dollimore MP, Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Hastings, Rye and the villages said 'The 'Hastings in Stitches' 30th Birthday Project is a fantastic way to celebrate our town and its phenomenal voluntary, charitable, and business organisations. The new piece highlights our creativity and community spirit, and I look forward to seeing the finished piece launch in September 2025.'