Lewes: Plans to transform empty high street shop windows

Empty shop units in Lewes will be used as the canvas for a new arts project where artists will create “window stories”.

The aim is to transform any “blank, uninteresting space with original art and craft”.

The scheme is being implemented between September 2 and September 17 as part of Artwave, an annual art festival across the Lewes area.

The window display outside the former M&Co store (Image: LDC)

But three artists have been given permission to start the project early, turning the window of a shut down M&Co premises into a work of art.

Councillor Johnny Denis said: “This is such an important initiative.  Town centres up and down the UK are seeing shops cease trading and units being vacated. 

“While we must do all we can to attract new businesses into these spaces, in the interim period it is however essential that we create something that visitors to the town centre can still engage with and if they are really taken by it, possibly purchase it, as much of this excellent work is also for sale.”

Maia Eden, Michele Findlay and Simone Riley joined with Councillor Johnny Denis, cabinet member for arts, culture and tourism and leisure and Councillor Graham Clews to view the new window displays and discuss the inspiration for them.

MOST READ:

• Mystery as family of black mustelids emerge from drain and 'walk along high street'
• What is a mustelid and where are they most commonly found in the UK?
• Train passenger stopped for barging through barrier stamps on rail worker's head

Maia specialises in upcycling, making new things from old and in the right window is exhibiting a small selection of what she has made recently alongside some older work, while in the left window, Michele and Simone have collaborated on an installation of "curios" and "specimens", relating to the passage of time and finding beauty in unexpected places.

From September, Marco Crivello, a Lewes artist, will lead the Windows of Wonder project by filling a series of empty shop windows with installations that offer a new strand to the Artwave trail. 

Following this, Wonderwall of Collections and Containing Wonder will run to the end of October in the octagonal old library space of Fitzroy House in the centre of Lewes. Together these three projects will offer a satellite event to The Towner’s hosting of the Turner prize, picking up on this year’s themes, “Is it art?” and “Leave it to us”.