This summer sees the return of our popular open submission exhibition, East Sussex Open 2014, which opens to the public on 4 July at Towner in Eastbourne.

This year’s display will showcase original works by 34 East Sussex artists selected by Towner Exhibitions Curator, Sanna Moore, and guest selectors, Matthew Cornford, Professor of Fine Art, University of Brighton and one half of artist duo Cornford & Cross, and Hastings-based artist Becky Beasley.

Now in its fifth year, East Sussex Open aims to showcase the best visual artists and makers from across the East Sussex region - from Rye to Brighton and Hove. It was set up in 2009 when the Towner’s new building opened to offer talented local artists a chance to show their work on a national platform, as well as sell their work and develop their professional portfolio.

Artists selected for this competitive showcase include new and emerging artists such as third year Brighton University fine art student Anna Gonzalez Noguchi to more well-known artists such as British film director, writer and artist Andrew Kӧtting and his daughter, artist Eden Kӧtting, who have collaborated frequently in the past including film This is Our Life (2011). The full list of artists can be found below.

Sanna Moore, Exhibitions Curator, said, “This year, as always, East Sussex Open will contain a wide variety of work. There will be site specific pieces that respond to the space by Anny Evason and Anna Gonzalez Noguchi as well as a number of moving image works by artists like Toby Tatum and Lucinda Wells. There was a sharp rise in artists submitting proposals and film/video work this year which I feel is reflected in the final selection.” Judging who should be selected for the Open was tougher than usual. Becky Beasley, artist and guest selector commented on this.

Becky said: “Matthew and I were very in synch with our selection, so in many ways our show chose itself. For me, it's a show about worlds and world-building. Over two days I looked at nearly 300 artists' slides. Selecting in this way is such a personal and instinctive thing. Our choices are inevitably as eccentric as the many types of work on view. I took great pleasure in the process and left the Towner feeling excited about art in all its many, many guises.”

Matthew Cornford adds:” I hope this year’s East Sussex Open exhibition reflects the quality and diversity of art being made across the region. Throughout the selection processs, I was struck by how many ambitious artists of all ages and backgrounds have decided to make East Sussex the base for their creative work and lives. Whether selected or not, every artist who entered this years ‘Open’ is making a positive contribution to various art scenes now thriving across this region.”