How the Footbridge Gallery may look.

Entries invited for Bexhill’s Footbridge Gallery

Artists and non artists of all kinds are invited to enter a competition for artworks to be displayed on the proposed Footbridge Gallery at Bexhill station. The competition aims to “inspire local residents and  enliven the town’s urban fabric in a colourful and engaging way.” Nick Terdre reports.

The Footbridge Gallery at Bexhill railway station is an art competition open to all launched by the Footbridge Project, a community group run by volunteers.

Works are invited on the theme of Crossing to Happier Times. They can be in any medium – photography, painting, knitting, sculpture, computer graphics, or even sound, the organisers say!

“We are aiming to visually enhance the well-used but unloved footbridge that crosses the railway line in Bexhill, connecting both sides of the town,” says the project’s Tim Birch. “We are going to create an open-air gallery on the internal walls of the footbridge – Footbridge Gallery.”

“The Gallery has the potential to enhance the local area’s cultural experience, to become a tourist magnet for the town and to give pleasure during the Covid-19 pandemic and into the future.”

World first?

It may even be the world’s first open-air footbridge gallery, he says.

The competition is open to all ages, whether artists or not, across the Bexhill, Rother and Hastings area.The only condition is that the the artwork must be capable of being reproduced digitally.

Approximately 40 pieces will be selected for display by a panel of judges and a public vote. The works will be digitally printed onto graffiti-proofed vinyl and applied to the existing internal walls of the footbridge.

And if you’re wondering how that works for sound entries, Tim says, “We will be photographing or scanning all winning entries, and if they are intangibles, such as poetry, song or sound – there will be QR codes for people to hear.”

For those worried about the windows in the footbridge, Tim can provide reassurance. “Worry not, we are going to clean them the best we can and will try and graffiti-proof them once cleaned. We cannot, unfortunately, change them but are sure they will look brilliant once cleaned up and surrounded by art!”

More entries wanted

The competition is already under way.“Participation so far is good – we’ve received loads of entries, but we would love more,”  Tim told HOT.

The deadline for entries has been pushed back from end April to 28 May. Planning approval for the gallery is required, and though the project has been assured it will be granted, it will take a little longer to have everything in place.

There’s a small entry fee – £5 for adults and £2.50 if you’re 16 or less. And although some funding has been raised, more is required to make this all happen, Tim says. Donations are invited.

The organisers will be happy to provide more information on the project – write to them at footbridgeproject@gmail.com.

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