A new Christmas craft fair will be unveiled in Rye at the end of November in the newly restored Rye Creative Centre. The artists’ studio and performance venue will play host to a weekend of activities that promises to be so much more than just a Christmas fair, with open studios, craft demonstrations and performances for children as well as a pop-up “makers’ market”.
The creative centre’s Christmas craft fair will take place on the 27 and 28 November between 10am and 4pm at the New Road site just over the bridge from Rye Bay Fish. The entrance is between numbers 7-9 New Road.
A “makers’ market” will fill the refurbished old gym of the former school, with 15 locally based artists presenting items from jewellery and woodturning, through to botanical dye textiles, ceramics, and screen-printing.
Alongside this, many artists who work at the creative centre will be opening their studios, providing an opportunity to view their space, ask about their craft and make all important Christmas purchases direct from the makers. Other artists will be demonstrating their crafts with the opportunity for visitors to try their hand.
Woodturner Dan Howey will be demonstrating the delicate nature of woodturning; follow the flames to find Jake Bowers from Hastings’ ‘Thirsty Bear Forge’, who will be showing the art of metalworking. The more daring visitors will have the opportunity to forge their own poker!
To ensure that even the youngest members of the family enjoy their visit, Hastings-based author Ed Boxall will be on hand too for free performances of music, stories and poems based on his new picture book “Carried Away with the Carnival” including the original illustrations. There will even be an opportunity to get creative and make your own miniature carnival characters for a mini table-top carnival!
Each performance will last one hour and take place Saturday, November 27 at 11am and Sunday, November 28 at 2.30pm.
Hot food and mulled wine, as well as hot chocolate and sweet treats will be available for purchase to fuel the fun!
The weekend will be a celebration of makers and their practise, including craft demonstrations and advance tickets are £3 and Under 16s go free. Tickets and further information at https://ryecreativecentre.co.uk/exhibitionsandevents/christmas-makers-fair
Image Credits: Rye Creative Centre .