About us:
Flatland Projects is an artist focussed organisation that focusses on commissioning and the development of artists at fragile or critical moments in their careers. Akin to Flatland’s artist-led origin (est. 2018) it’s programme of exhibitions, studio development opportunities, and community engaged work is based in Beeching Road Studios; a terrace of light industrial units dedicated to developing viable career pathways for the creative industries in Bexhill on Sea. Since 2021 Flatland has been leading Beeching Road Studios in it’s development as a centre for the development of emerging practices; housing 27 artist studios, arts organisations, and creative commercial businesses to facilitate and build infrastructure for the arts in the ever-changing political and economical landscape of coastal Britain.
Flatland’s exhibition programme focuses on presenting artists of hyper-local contexts concurrently to hosting international artists in dialogue with one another. Flatland encourages artists to take new risks, and to present their work amongst new discourses within the industrial neighbourhood of Bexhill. Parallel to the exhibitions programme we provide essential development opportunities that offer artists time and space to locate their practice within the artistic ecology of East Sussex; through programmes such as our year long studio development programme, and our 6 month young persons studio residency. Flatland is a small team of four people; our Director, Technical team, and our Young Persons Studio Lead. Our team albeit small focus on our critical work which is developed directly for the community which we serve in Bexhill on Sea.
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Exhibition Programme:
Flatland Solo Exhibition Prize Winner:
Harmeet Rahal, Contraband Zindabad
Exhibition dates: 10th August - 22nd September 2024
​Harmeet Singh Rahal is an artist from Mumbai, India, now living and working in London. His recent work explores the poetics of resistance, non-linear temporalities, and cyclical, radical histories. He works between mediums - making films, installations, publications, performances, and music.
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He did his MFA at Goldsmiths, University of London, and his BFA at the Rachana Sansad AFAC in Mumbai. In 2023, he won the Almacantar Award, and was a finalist for the CIRCA Prize. In 2024, he was a recipient of The British Council Venice Biennale Fellowship and was also one of the winners of ‘TAF Emerging Artist Award - South Asia’. Recent exhibitions include Gitanjali at Cafe Oto, Bloomberg New Contemporaries at Camden Art Centre and CIRCA at Piccadilly Lights.
Development Programmes:
Flatland Projects delivers a series of parallel programmes at Beeching Road Studios which seek to fill the gaps in opportunities available to young people accessing creative industries. Working with Talent Accelerator (TA) and Hastings and Rother Arts in Education Network (HRAEN) as programme partners, Flatland has developed a series of initiatives which equip young people with specific skillsets and valuable support networks to make creative careers a viable and sustainable option.
The reality of many art careers is that they are hybrid in nature. The aim of these programmes is to create valuable pathways for local young people to navigate these dualities within the arts. Creatives living and working in the creative sector in the South East typically have regular freelancing roles for example, such as gallery technician, art handler, studio assistant, art transportation, and art teacher.
The programmes cultivated within Flatland Futures prepare young people for these freelance opportunities, providing hands on support and time and space to develop their skillset outside of the studio. Technician training, funding workshops and facilitating opportunities are some examples of the various free programmes on offer.
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Current Programmes:
- FLP X DLWP Studio Development Programme
- FLP X DLWP Curatorial Fellowship
- Bexhill's Monument Committee
- Artist Writing Forum
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Former Programmes:
- Early Career Studio Programme
- Technician's Training Course
- Young Person's Studio Residency
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Harmeet Rahal, Trespassings in Marathi, Hindi & English (2023)
Our Team:
Director: Ben Urban
Artist Development Lead: Amy Mock
Head Technician: Billy Stanley
Curatorial Fellow: Harry Leek
Gallery Assistant: Bayley Bull
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Contact:
flatlandprojects.hastings@gmail.com
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Address:
Flatland Projects
Unit 20, Beeching Road,
Bexhill on Sea,
TN39 3LJ
(open Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 16:00)
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Funders and Supporters:
Flatland Projects receives regular funding from Arts Council England's Project Grants,and Rother District Council. The organisation has also previously received funding from the likes of Fluxus Arts Projects, Chalk Cliff Trust, East Sussex Arts Partnership, and Talent Accelerator.
Mission Statement:
Flatland was founded to combat the gentrification of the coastal art scene which has been established majorly by a down from London community over the last 10 years. The founders of the organisation were born in East Sussex to working class parents, Flatland designs, develops, and establishes meaningful and progressive support for artists to realise, commission, and afford space to the production of ambitious contemporary art. Flatland's work combats sector-wide issues of socio-economic imbalance, and advocates to funders, local government, and gatekeepers for the improvement of the conditions which artist make their work in.