Helping to make our town a place of Sanctuary for All

For the ninth year, some of Hastings’ best musicians and artists are showing their support for the act of seeking sanctuary alongside artists and performers from around the globe who have made the UK their home. Organised by local charity Hastings Community of Sanctuary (HCoS), and hosted by Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, the festival celebrates the power of community, of creativity and of hope. The event comes at the end of Refugee Week, a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary, with a theme this year of ‘Courage’.

The festival runs from 12-6pm and is free to all. In the grounds of Hastings Museum you will find live music, creative workshops, storytellers, community stalls, fun for kids, food and friends.

There are lots of creative things to do throughout the day including art activities, circus and drumming workshops and storytelling sessions.

Inside the museum there will be talks and panel discussions, as well as the chance to enjoy the exhibitions in the museum’s galleries.

With so much turmoil around the world, Sanctuary Festival reminds us that community and creativity really do make a difference at a local level.  

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Bohemia Road, Hastings TN34 1ET

Sanctuary Festival started in 2017 hosted at Ashburnham Place, and in 2021, following the pandemic, found a new home at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.  We’re hugely grateful to both of them for making it possible to grow the event, which welcomed over 2000 people in 2024.

In 2022, a short film was made by Mike Page from Megatrend Media.  Watch it here.

Photos below by Alexander Brattell