A Town Explores A Book - A Town Explores A Book

Four Courts Festival Weekend

Join us at Four Courts Wellbeing Hub on the final weekend of the festival for live music, exhibitions, outdoor art, food and community!

Seaview’s Masks – community exhibition at Seaview

An exhibition by the Seaview community exploring Mary Seacole’s writing through masks

“Sharp edge of our grief” – film, live music & conversation

Two artist teams take Mary Seacole’s book on a creative journey. Join us at Archer Lodge for the screening of a film by Rod Morris, Etienne Cutmore-Kourouma and Jac Holt, and live music from Sam Brown, Hannah Collisson, Catherine Rahjans & Elizabeth Rajhans

Shop Window Displays

The independent businesses in the town offer their perspectives on Mary Seacole’s book in a trail of window displays…

Unmasked and Stripped Bare – exhibition by Yasmin Aishah and Ruby Colley

Two sound installations at Hattons Yard by artists Yasmin Aishah and Ruby Colley.

Outdoor Art Trail

Explore the art trail to explore the book! The outdoor art in the open spaces of St Leonards-on-Sea invites you outside for multiple visits to consider what this heritage book means to you

Home Front – Exhibition by Jude Montague

Exploring news reportage and images from the first Crimean War. How did people feel about what was going on far away – how connected did they feel?

Kings Road Street Party

Fun for all the family this Easter Sunday, 11am-3pm on Kings Road, St Leonards, feat. dog show, family workshops, games, live music & poetry stage. Don’t miss it!

“Longing to travel” – Active Arts Community Exhibition

An exhibition of work by the Active Arts community at The Clifton Centre, inspired by their exploration of the life of Mary Seacole

Bohemia Creative Quarter Sunday

Pick up your hand-made festival passport and explore the creative businesses in Bohemia Creative Quarter, complete with activities and live music…

Breakfast & Read Aloud at The Clifton Centre

A free family event at The Clifton Centre bringing Mary Seacole’s words to life

“Confidence in my own powers” – Festival Opening Celebration

Join us at Christ Church, St Leonards, for the launch of A Town Explores A book 2023! An evening of live music and conversation

Design your bunting! Schools festival artwork inspired by Mary Seacole

#ATownExploresABook23 is inviting schools to create artwork inspired by this year’s book, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole, which we will print and display as bunting during the festival. Submit by 22 March!

Planning Underway for April Community Events

A Town Explores A Book is all about community, and planning is already underway for two big events in April that come under the festival banner, and will bring together lots of independent local businesses.

Press Kit

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Earthed

14–18 April 2022: Earthed An experiential theatre performance: a promenade theatre performance exploring two women’s magical childhood hideouts. Running over the final Easter weekend, Thursday 14–Monday 18 April, performers Yasmin […]

The Diddakoi Zine

The Diddakoi Zine The festival mentee team include artists of Romany and mixed race heritage. Their zine, created by Esme Fisher and supported through Artist Digital fringe funding that Esme […]

1–18 April: disPLACED exhibition

1–18 April: disPLACED exhibition Southwater Area Community Centre,1 and 2 Stainsby Street TN37 6LA,Entrance on the railway side of the building, free. Curator Nick Hill has steered a focus on […]

#ATEAB23 Crowdfunder a Great Success Raising Over £7,000!

The festival community showed up and and showed overwhelming support for #ATownExploresABook23 and our aim to offer creative workshops and activities to thousands of school-age children. As the Crowdfunder closed on 25th October, our total had reached £7,607.