About

What is England's Creative Coast?

England’s Creative Coast was a landmark project between seven outstanding arts organisations — Cement Fields, Creative Folkestone, De La Warr Pavilion, Hastings Contemporary, Metal, Towner Eastbourne and Turner Contemporary — to create a new outdoor cultural experience that connected art with landscape and local stories with global perspectives. It brought together the Waterfronts commissions and the world’s first art GeoTour, with each partner presenting their own section of the project and a local engagement programme at its heart.

The world’s first art GeoTour

Using geocaching, the GPS-enabled digital treasure hunt technology, communities from each of the seven locations were invited to share their personal stories of what it’s like to live in that particular coastal place, or respond to the new artwork in their town and give visitors a new way to interact with the landscape.

Local people from each location worked with each partner arts organisation to create new caches (containers hidden within the landscape featuring rewards) that lead visitors on a ‘Geotour’ of the region — the first ever art geocache tour in the world. Through gaming, travellers are able to enjoy an authentic experience in the place they’re visiting. By working with local people, the partner galleries connected with their communities in new ways, enabling the exploration of place and art by visitors as never before.

Self-build itineraries

This site allows you to curate your own journey, in a pick and mix style, offering a variety of cultural experiences across England’s Creative Coast, as well as recommendations for the best food, drink and accommodation for a complete cultural travel experience.

Who is it aimed at?

England's Creative Coast is open to all! For those who travel for experiences and like to immerse themselves in the local culture and those who love the outdoors and want to learn while on a trip. 

England’s Creative Coast is led by Turner Contemporary and Visit Kent and is principally funded by Arts Council England’s Cultural Destinations programme and Visit England through the Discover England Fund, with support from a number of key investors, including; the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council, Essex County Council, Visit Essex, Southend Borough Council, Experience West Sussex, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Southeastern, and in partnership with Cement Fields, Creative Folkestone, De La Warr Pavilion, Hastings Contemporary, Metal and Towner Eastbourne.