Latest news

BIG little BOOK BASH IS BACK AND EVEN BETTER

BIG little BOOK BASH IS BACK AND EVEN BETTER

The Book Bash is back, by popular demand.  Following on from the success of the book sale for local readers, during the 2024 Little Arts Festival, we’re planning a Book Bash as part of our Big Little Arts Weekend in September. We’d love to hear from local book clubs...

LITTLE ARTS TEAM WILL BE AT THE FLOWERSHOW

LITTLE ARTS TEAM WILL BE AT THE FLOWERSHOW

If you're interested in attending, or taking part in, the Big Little Arts Weekend, the team will be on hand at the Rushlake Green flower show to answer questions and encourage your involvement and support. If you’re a local visual artist, why not submit a piece of...

BIG LITTLE ARTS WEEKEND DATES ANNOUNCED

BIG LITTLE ARTS WEEKEND DATES ANNOUNCED

The dates have been set for this years Big Little Arts Weekend, which is a follow up to last years successful Little Arts Festival. This Rushlake Green based community arts event starts with launch preview on Thursday 25th September 2025 and continues through until...

MARK AUSTIN – AT PURE ARTS, Roche Gallery, Rye from 12th April

MARK AUSTIN – AT PURE ARTS, Roche Gallery, Rye from 12th April

Local artist Mark Austin is thrilled to be exhibiting with the Pure Arts Group at the stunning Roche Gallery in Rye. This exhibition brings together an exclusive group of artists, showcasing bold, contemporary works in a beautiful setting. He tells us: “Come and...

NIGEL HORN LIVE at BLUEBELL ROOTS Arlington Village Hall 6th April 25

NIGEL HORN LIVE at BLUEBELL ROOTS Arlington Village Hall 6th April 25

Nigel Horn, the acoustic guitarist who received a rapturous reception at last year's Little Arts Festival, will be appearing at the Bluebell Roots in Arlington Village Hall on Sunday April 6th, where the featured artist will be Erica Steencamp. Nigel has himself been...

TAYLOR MADE TO ROCK The Bear Inn Burwash 22nd March 25

TAYLOR MADE TO ROCK The Bear Inn Burwash 22nd March 25

Local Rock, Pop, Soul, Rock ‘n’ Roll band TAYLOR MADE are playing a gig at the Bear Inn Burwash on 22nd March. Many will remember the bands barnstorming appearance at the 2024 Little Arts Festival Big little Gig.

AUTHENTIC SUSSEX HARMONIES IN RINGMER 30th May 25

AUTHENTIC SUSSEX HARMONIES IN RINGMER 30th May 25

If you missed Sussex Harmony at last year’s Little Arts Festival, there’s another chance to hear them in a concert of 18th and 19th Century music from the pubs and pulpits of rural Sussex with readings from a local farmer’s diaries. Where: Ringmer Village Hall, Lewes...

BIG PLANS FOR THE LITTLE ARTS FESTIVAL WEBSITE

BIG PLANS FOR THE LITTLE ARTS FESTIVAL WEBSITE

We have big plans for our Little Arts website. Our goal is to make the site place to go for news not just about Little Arts Festival activities, but also information about what’s on in the local area where anyone and everyone involved in any aspect of the arts: music,...

BIG LITTLE ARTS WEEKEND 2025

BIG LITTLE ARTS WEEKEND 2025

The Little Arts Festival will be back soon. We’re excited to announce that a mini arts festival is being planned for later this year. The Big Little Arts Weekend will run from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th September. Things are at an early stage, but we can tell you...

TAYLOR MADE  RETURN TO ROCK THE GREEN – 26th July

TAYLOR MADE RETURN TO ROCK THE GREEN – 26th July

The legendary Taylormade band had everyone up and dancing the night away when they were featured in the BIG LITTLE GIG at the Little Arts Festival in 2024. From floor-filling classics to the latest chart hits and indie/rock anthems, the band has been setting dance...

AN INVESTMENT CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS

AN INVESTMENT CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS

Many of you will remember painter and musician. Chris Liddiard, who was the founder and creator of the first Little Arts Festival in 2016. Chris was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and died in 2018. We will be making a donation of £500 in his memory from the...

LITTLE ARTS GRANT SCHEME LAUNCHED

LITTLE ARTS GRANT SCHEME LAUNCHED

Little Arts is pleased to announce the launch of an annual Arts Grant to encourage creativity. Part of the 2024 festival legacy fund is being invested in a scheme to develop the creative skills of local young people and their involvement in the arts. The scheme is...

LITTLE ARTS FESTIVAL ONWARDS & ARTWARDS

LITTLE ARTS FESTIVAL ONWARDS & ARTWARDS

As well as providing a memorably varied programme of artistic events over a three week period last September, the 2024 Little Arts Festival also yielded a financial legacy - thanks to all those who supported the project. Yes, the legacy is a very modest one, but it’s...

Blue Murder at the Blue Parrot

Blue Murder at the Blue Parrot

The Village Players were delighted to take part in LAF24, closing off the festival with a rip-roaring interactive comedy murder drama. The players invited their audience to don twenties glad rags, bring sleuthing skills, and join them at the Blue Parrot for music,...

THE ART OF ANIME – Wills Whims

THE ART OF ANIME – Wills Whims

Wills's Whims special ANIME class showed how to paint your favourite character with top tips & tricks from tutor Kelly Whills. Attendees were shown ow to create top notch illustrations again and again with these useful techniques and cheats under their belt. They...

CAN I HAVE A WORD PLEASE – Village Players

CAN I HAVE A WORD PLEASE – Village Players

On 17th August, as part of the festival, the Village Players led a stimulating session of poetry and prose readings. This highlight of the event was the inclusion of readings by several extremely talented local poets and writers. The Village Players segments, people...

BIG LITTLE GIG – Local musicians

BIG LITTLE GIG – Local musicians

On 16th August, for one night only, Little Arts presented a mini-fest of locally-grown talent, featuring Acoustic Guitar; Original Soul; and Groovy Dance Classics. The BIG little GIG featured a fantastic line-up of hugely talented local musicians: Instrumentalist...

EARLY MUSIC VIBES – Pastores Ensemble

EARLY MUSIC VIBES – Pastores Ensemble

The Pastores Ensemble (viols, mandolin, mandola, guitar, recorder, voice), accompanied by soprano Constance Starns, presented  a programme of Early Music which included pieces by Tye, Deering, Tomkins, Brade and Lupo. Robert Carrington’s atmospheric ‘I drove East on...

BOOKSHOP BONANZA – Local book clubs

BOOKSHOP BONANZA – Local book clubs

On 11th August, Rushlake Green’s energetic local book clubs got together to organise an informal Book Sale. Avid local readers flocked in to discover heaps of titles to explore and purchase. The event was also a very social occasion with many enjoying a coffee and a...

WHEN  64 WAS FAB – Nothing is Real Band

WHEN 64 WAS FAB – Nothing is Real Band

Featuring the Nothing is Real Band. Dance the night away to the Mersey sounds of the sixties as Nothing is Real play every 1964 Beatles song including the albums A Hard Day's Night and Beatles for Sale, not forgetting the often forgotten EP Long Tall Sally. Nothing is...

KIDS ACTING UP – Pam Edmonds

KIDS ACTING UP – Pam Edmonds

On 10th August, children of (roughly) primary school age were invited to be part of the festival by coming along to enjoy a range of games and fun drama activities run by Pam Edmonds. Pam is a retired local primary school teacher with many years’ experience. She has...

SWEET SYLVAN SCENES – Judy Tarling

SWEET SYLVAN SCENES – Judy Tarling

On 10th August, as part of the festival, Judy Tarling presented the story of Heathfield Park in the 1790s.  With songs written for Heathfield Park by William Crotch, performed by The Mayfield Consort directed by David Force. 302

GLASS ART CREATIONS – Jazz Dixon

GLASS ART CREATIONS – Jazz Dixon

On 10th August Jazz Dixon gave adults a demonstration and workshop of fused glass art, with an opportunity for those attending to try their hand at this inspirational art form. Also, on 23rd August, Jazz provided a fun activity in which children were shown how to...