There can be no better day to launch a festival about Edward Lear than April Fool’s Day – the day chosen by ATownExploresABook festival to start celebrating the 150th anniversary of Edward Lear’s Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets. Erica Smith brings us up to date with some of the delights that the festival will offer residents of and visitors to St Leonards-on-Sea through the Easter holiday period.
Today the creative industry remains as important as ever, particularly when so much art is consumed during the pandemic. From streaming Netflix or a performance from the National Theatre, at-home art projects to virtual exhibitions. Art, in all its forms, gives people hope, perspective and an emotional outlet.
In the autumn of 1852, Edward Lear, while painting a fig tree in the overgrown garden of the Hastings MP Frederick North, made a lifelong friendship with the MP’s daughters, which affects lives to this day. Artist and writer Maureen Connett tells us more about the lesser known artistic and musical talents of the writer, Edward Lear, best known for his limericks and nonsense poetry.
The annual ATownExploresABook (ATEAB) festival in St Leonards-on-Sea is an exciting exploration of a heritage book by everyone in the community – including visitors. It’s also the biggest platform for young people’s outdoor art in the region – which you can see on the platform at Southeastern’s Warrior Square station where the local Transition Town community group have created a beautiful garden.
HOT is run by volunteers but has overheads for hosting and web development. Support HOT!
Advertise your business or your event on HOT for as little as £20 per month
Find out more…
If you like HOT and want to keep it sustainable, please Donate via PayPal, it’s easy!
Do you want to write, proofread, edit listings or help sell advertising? then contact us
