
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
With a National Art Pass you get
Situated in the Sussex South Downs, the museum focuses on the artists and craftspeople who made Ditchling a creative hub in the 20th century.
The site was originally founded by sisters Hilary and Joanna Bourne in 1985 as a place to display their collection of local artworks, but in 2012 a £2.3 million grant from HLF and other donors paved the way for a major renovation project.
Designed by by Adam Richards Architects, the new space offers views out over Ditchling, allowing the works to be set against the backdrop of where they were created. The collection has also been refocused to provide a comprehensive account of the village's artistic heritage, leading the museum to be described as 'an unmissable stop on the Sussex art trail'.
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft was one of the finalists for Museum of the Year 2014.
In 2016, the Museum ran a highly successful Art Happenscrowdfunding campaign to turn a 12.5-tonne vintage steamroller into a printing press, and took it on a tour of museums and festivals.
Look out for The Wild Escape at museums and galleries in the next few months. Many have special events, or you can use our audio introduction to help children get involved at any cultural venue.
Visiting with children?
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.