Discover a taste of Japan in Hastings this week at the preview of Hastings Museum and Art Gallery's summer exhibition of Japanese Kabuki prints. As well as an excellent chance to get a first look at the exhibition, there will be music performed on a variety of traditional Asian instruments by Geoff Leigh and Japanese dance performed by Yumino Seki.
The event is free with a pay bar. You will also be able to sample Japanese food, courtesy of the Yoshi House in East Beach Street.
This large-scale exhibition represents a selection of 19th century Japanese Kabuki prints from the museum's permanent collection.
Originally acquired by the Brasseys in 1877, these woodblock prints not only provide an insight into the Japanese print tradition, but also depict famous historical events and folklore.
This is the first collective exhibition of the Japanese prints for over twenty years. A fully illustrated catalogue is available to purchase at the museum shop. There is a wide range of workshops throughout the exhibition. e-Mail: museum@hastings.gov.uk for more information.
A day of football has been organised to celebrate the links between two namesake towns.
Hastings, East Sussex and Hastings, Sierra Leone were officially twinned in February last year and on Friday 11 July seven primary schools in Hastings, all linked with schools in Sierra Leone, will take part in a whole day of football and fun.
The event is organised by staff at Filsham Valley School and the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, both of which have ties with an equivalent secondary school and fire rescue service in Hastings SL. A party of Sierra Leoneans, now living in London, will be guests at the event and organisers hope some of the accompanying young people will take part in tournaments.
The High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, the High Sheriff of East Sussex and our very own mayor have all been invited to this special event, celebrating the developing friendship between the two towns.
The Sussex Tourism Partnership's 'Big Sussex Week' got off to a flying start on Monday at the Bluebell Railway, thanks to the active support of local tourism businesses.
A steam train ceremonially broke down a wall simulating the divide between East and West Sussex, having literally travelled between the two counties, from Sheffield Park in East Sussex to Horsted Keynes in West Sussex. On hand were the two Lord Lieutenants, and numerous tourism businesses.
And Hastings and 1066 Country played more than its fair share in the proceedings, with wine supplied by Carr Taylor vineyards at Westfield, smoked salmon supplied by Rock-A-Nore fisheries, much of the promotional material designed by Hastings Borough Council and own town crier, Jon Bartholomew, presiding over the whole ceremony.
Kevin Boorman, Hastings Borough Council's tourism manager, was pleased that the town got so involved in the launch event. He said:
"Hastings is one of the top tourism destinations in Sussex, and it was great that our local businesses and the council were able to contribute so much to the launch of the Big Sussex Week. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across Sussex to Hastings and 1066 Country over the next few days and, indeed, for the rest of the season."
The event is aimed at promoting Sussex tourism businesses to local people, who are often unaware of just what is on their own doorstep. It runs until Sunday 22 June and full details of the offers can be found at www.bigsussex.co.uk.
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This page last updated: 19/06/2008