Join us on a journey of magical discovery in Speckled Wood. Get curious in the woods and wander through the Curious Woodland Trail, making sure to keep your eyes peeled for all the hidden curiosities in the trees and along the ground… What can you spot? Woodland creatures, big or small? Plants, trees and flora? Speckled Wood will be adorned with nature-themed artwork made from willow, wood, clay and more, created by acclaimed local artists Mark Daniels, Martin Brockman and Peter Quinnell.

"Radiator Arts take you on a magical journey into the wonderful underground world of Mycorrhizal Fungi. This immersive and educational installation explores its vital place in the forest ecosystem with handcrafted sculptures including a glade of life size trees and root systems surrounding a central mother tree. Interactive sounds and lights will enhance the message and experience further.

There will be innovative educational displays that describe the processes, featuring a funghi library.

Mycelium networks are unseen yet vital to the health of trees, almost magical and endlessly fascinating. This is an appealing and perfect metaphor for our climate crisis. "

"Enter into the church vaults through the big red door into our Community Curiosity Cabinet of Growth. What will you discover inside?

Ignite your sense of wonder as you explore the curious artwork within our curiosity cabinet exhibition space, created by a myriad of local artists and community groups. Explore how the artists have interpreted the festival theme of growth in a multiple of mediums, including full immersive experiences.

Become entranced by the artistic projections on the church vault walls, and pull back the curtain to step into ‘MOTHERWOOD' - the wonderful underground world of Mycorrhizal Fungi created by Radiator Arts. "

In the development of an outdoor artwork created specifically for their landscape, residents and friends of Roosevelt Court will explore what ‘curiosity’ means with early career ExploreTheArch facilitator, Elkie Riley, mentored by Gail Borrow and Rod Morris. The participants' weekly stories, craft outputs and images will be metaphorically ‘posted' through the picket fence surrounding the Four Courts Wellbeing Hub where children meet in the Monday after-school connect sessions.

Come along to the Bus Stop Studios to discover how local photographers have interpreted our festival theme of growth during this 5 week photography exhibition. This open call asked artists to interpret 'growth' in any way they are curious about… growth of mindset, growing up, older, bigger, growth in nature, growth in community - the interpretations are endless. Since this is a competition, drop by to have a browse and vote for your favourite, or maybe even purchase a print for yourself! The exhibition will be open Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, with a Private Viewing on 24th May, 6:00pm-8:00pm.

"Did you know there are pieces of plastic washed up on Hastings and St Leonards beach that have come all the way from the USA? There are so many stories to be told through this beach waste… do you 'sea' trash, or do you 'sea' treasure?

Our "Tidal Treasures: Sculpting with Salvaged Plastics” exhibition will showcase sculptures from seven local artists. Through recent beach and river cleans in our local area, Curious Agenda and Strandliners (along with some amazing volunteers) have collected, cleaned and categorised what has been found. These plastics have been given to our local artists to be interpreted and sculpted into something new, inspiring and educational. Come along to learn more about the seven types of plastic (found stamped in the triangle on every plastic item!), and see what the artists have made.

You can also experience other related artwork, hear stories from Strandliners and follow the journey of found sea plastics, finding out just how far they've travelled.

Part of an informal DIY festival by artists to celebrate invention in its abstract and strangest everydayness is inspired by John Logie Baird’s work to develop television. This exhibition by artists inspired by invention is followed by talks and workshops at the Hastings Museum on 24-25th May