Added poignancy as #SussexTogether Festival of the Arts opens

The team behind the festival – which brings together Chichester Cathedral and Sussex Newspapers – has selected 35 artists and creatives to feature in a group exhibition which is being held both at Chichester Cathedral and online.

The successful entrants include visual artists, photographers, poets and creative writers. Their submissions reflect upon and celebrate the spirit of togetherness experienced by the people of West and East Sussex throughout the pandemic.

The Sussex Together exhibition has been installed and will continue to be displayed into December.

A virtual experience of the exhibition will go live from November 10 at http://box2207.temp.domains/~sussexto/ allowing people far and wide to experience the exhibition, listen to readings of poetry and short stories and to a recording of the cathedral bells ringing in this period of reflection and remembrance.

Chichester Cathedral will be open for private and prayer and reflection from November 5 – though the cathedral advises people to visit the cathedral website for further guidance on visiting.

Cathedral spokesman Oliver Tubb said: “Now more than ever, we feel that this project can be a means to inspire and encourage the people of our county – and equally provide an opportunity to reflect and remember those we have lost, those who work hard to protect us and those who have endured throughout this challenging year."

The #SussexTogether Festival was created by Chichester Cathedral and by Sussex Newspapers. It opened to the public following All Souls’ Day on Monday when we remember those we have lost. The cathedral bells were rung in remembrance and then on Tuesday rang again to ring in the festival.

The entrants selected in the visual arts category are: Julie Allan; Natalie Ann; Catherine Barnes; Jakub Bors; Michael Brown; Dodie Buchanan; Howard Castle-Smith; Hannah Clough; Stephen Cochrane; Stephen Codner; Kate Cooke; Stephen Cox-Rusbridge; Caroline Croft; Richard Davidson; Paula De Sousa; Paula Dickinson; Joanna Duncan-Smith; Sue England; Robin Feild; Chris Formaggia; Jessica Gill; Rebekah Hanson; Natalie Katona; Kathleen King; Jess Loseby; Helen Melia; Jim Northover; Imogen Ockenden; Ian Passmore; Nicole Phillips; Luc(e) Raesmith, Vivien Ruddock; Diana Smith; Alexandra Urquhart; and Maria Yadegar.

The festival exhibition is in the south transept of the cathedral. Entry to the cathedral is free of charge.

However donations are welcome.

The Dean of Chichester, The Very Rev Stephen Waine, said: “The festival celebrates the importance of community over this difficult time and has reached out across the diocese.

“The festival will give us an opportunity to reflect, remember and celebrate the efforts of the people of Sussex. We are looking forward to hosting the works at the cathedral and thank those who took the time to submit their creative endeavours.”

To find out more information, including guidance on visiting the cathedral, visit http://chichestercathedral.org.uk