Newhaven Artists’ Trail is in its second year.
In year one, the gamble of putting on a trail that frankly no-one may attend was a real one. Newhaven has always been secretly sheltering an artists’ quarter. It’s just that it has always been a place that people pass through, buy fish from or go to catch a ferry.
Imagine then a sudden shift in the energy of the place caused by the action of Sophie Mahir, the founder of Newhaven Arts. Thanks to her a trail manifested itself.
Gaining some sponsorship, funding and exposure, eleven venues of varying types tentatively opened their doors.
It was a gamble. Brighton had long established trails and some houses had a devoted following. In opening their houses, the artists of Newhaven were faced with the prospect of having to prove themselves quickly. If people were to travel from Brighton it had better be good. Newhaven was considered by many to be a very poor relation to Brighton and arts trail lovers can be rooted firmly in town. Could Newhaven come up with the goods?

continue