Festival Prep for 2025 is Under Way.
For updates regarding preparations for 2025, see News & Blog.
#ATownExploresABook24, is shortlisted for ‘Best Community Engagement Project’ by Community Rail Awards.
Through our community partner Southeast Communities Rail Partnership, the Platform Panel Project which was the station focus in the 2024 festival exploring #ENesbit’s #TheRailwayChildren, is highlighted for excellent community engagement.
Community participants that took part include ExploreTheArch’s early career team, Hastings And Bexhill Mencap community, Zoom Arts and Kings Road traders in #StLeonardsOnSea.
The #ATownExploresABook festival is a reader-led festival amplifying voices not heard in other literary platforms. Creative responses to the book produced by community participants are displayed in an outdoor art trail across town prompting community cohesion.
The 2024 festival trail ran from Saturday 30 March – Sunday 14 April, 2024:
- Outdoor art trail with the Platform Panel Project.
- Festival hubs each containing two exhibitions and free family activities.
- Exhibition at Zoom Arts Gallery.
Perks the Porter Activity Hub
Four Courts Wellbeing Hub.
Outdoor art on the
fence of this venue
with free family activities
Inside accompanying
mixed media exhibition
‘Emotional Landscapes’
and installation
‘Wisdoms’.
Emotional Landscapes Exhibition
Four Courts Wellbeing Hub.
Mixed media exhibition
by members of the
Four Courts Community
responding to the characters’
explorations in the landscape.
Wisdoms Installation
Four Courts Wellbeing Hub.
ExploreTheArch’s
installation featuring
wisdoms shared by the
Four Courts community
prompted by wisdoms in
The Railway Children.
Filmmaker: Rod Morris.
“a great dragon tearing by”
Asda supermarket path and Thealken Drive.
ExploreTheArch early career artists
curate 3000 children’s sketches inspired by the book bringing trains to this part of town.
“metals of the up-line”
Bus stops in London Road.
Photographer Jules Earl explores aspects of St Leonards on Sea’s
rail infrastructure.
Window Displays – Bohemia Creative Quarter
Bohemia Creative Quarter Traders explore E. Nesbit’s book in window displays.
“the rush of its passing”
Activity Hub.
Archer Lodge, Charles Road.
Free family activities accompanying
“I thought engineering was making engines” exhibition and “with a shriek and a snort” exhibition.
“with a shriek and a snort”
Hastings and Bexhill Mencap’s Active Arts are inspired by E Nesbit’s The Railway Children to make a model of St Leonards Warrior Square Station as
“I thought engineering was making engines.”
Archer Lodge, Charles Road. Automata exhibition by Cabaret Mechanical Theatre working with 200 young artists.
“picks and spades”
Station Path
off Station approach.
Artist ARRAN
honours the workers who
built St Leonards on Sea’s
rail infrastructure.
“shining metals”
Zoom Arts Gallery.
St Leonards Warrior Square Station.
St Leonards Warrior Square Station.
The Zoom Arts collective explores various aspects of the local rail history and
Platform Panel Project
St Leonards Warrior Square Station.
Southeast Communities Rail Partnership With ExploreTheArch’s early career team explore working class stories In the local railway heritage.
Window Displays – Kings Road
Traders in Kings Road explore E. Nesbit’s book in window displays and there’s two more on London Road.
Growing Up
Find Seaview Project’s creative response to the book in two bench shelters on the promenade. The artists explore personal reflections of growing up responding to
Festival Events
30 March, 7 April and 14 April.
Kings Road Street Party
Saturday 30 March, 11am-3pm
On the Saturday of Easter weekend Kings Road becomes one big train-themed party.
Bohemia Creative Quarter Day
Sunday 7 April, 11am-4pm
Music in the shops as you
explore E. Nesbit’s life
in a stamp activity.
2024 Closing Event
Sunday 14 April, 4pm
Christ Church, Silchester Road.
Explore composer Johnny Douglas’
score for the 1970 film
The Railway Children.
A talk by the composer’s
Scratch Orchestra Rehearsal
Sunday 14 April, 2pm
Christ Church, Silchester Road
Scratch orchestra rehearses for the closing event.
Events from 2023…
“Confidence in my own powers” – Festival Opening Event
Join us at Christ Church, St Leonards, for the launch of A Town Explores A book 2023! An evening of live music and conversation led
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
Shop Window Displays
The independent businesses in the town offer their perspectives on Mary Seacole’s book in a trail of window displays…
Workshop: Make a porcelain boat
Make a boat in porcelain to hang in your home with Liz Emtage of Pelham’s, in Kings Road. The workshops run over two afternoons
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
“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
Challenges in Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands – exhibition by Zoom Arts
Zoom Arts collective explore the theme of challenge in Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands.
Unmasked and Stripped Bare – exhibition by Yasmin Aishah and Ruby Colley
Two sound installations at Hattons Yard by artists Yasmin Aishah and Ruby Colley.
Seaview’s Masks – community exhibition at Seaview
An exhibition by the Seaview community exploring Mary Seacole’s writing through masks
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.
Family Print Workshop at Little Mashers
A drop-in family print workshop at Little Mashers, inspired by the themes in Mary Seacole’s book.
The British Hotel – Exhibition by Black Butterfly
An immersive installation by Black Butterfly reimagining The British Hotel, the provisions store, canteen, and medical centre set up by Mary Seacole to serve soldiers
“Sharp edge of our grief” – film, live music & conversation
Two artist teams take Mary Seacole’s book on a creative journey. Join us for a film screening, live music, conversation and food inspired by Mary
Four Courts Festival Weekend
Join us at Four Courts Wellbeing Hub on the final weekend of the festival for live music, exhibitions, food and community!
