The Arts Society West Sussex Supported and Celebrated Children’s Creativity in the South Downs

‘Downscape’ was a creative education project delivered across ten primary schools in West Sussex, bringing children together to explore the landscapes of the South Downs through poetry, music, visual art and dance. Four professional artists worked with pupils in their schools, helping them develop creative responses to the places and environments around them. 

Each school explored its own relationship with the South Downs, creating work shaped by the children’s observations, ideas and vivid imaginations. A £1,500 Member Society Grant from The Arts Society helped make the project possible, enabling the organisers to secure further local support from The Bowerman Trust and The Billingshust Lions Club. 

The project culminated in four concerts at Champs Hill. Young poets performed their original work, while choirs sang reworked folk songs and new songs written and composed by the children with singer-songwriter Emily Barden. Children’s artwork, inspired by the South Downs and the medieval wall paintings at St Botolph’s Church, Hardham, was exhibited alongside the performances. 

The project had a clear impact on the children involved. Working with professional artists helped develop their confidence, self-esteem and creative ambition, while observing and responding to their local environment deepened their understanding and appreciation of the South Downs. 

A highlight was the premiere of the Downscape film, created by poet and sound artist Antosh Wojcik with filmmaker Xenia Glen. Each school received a copy, allowing the experience to be shared with the wider school community. 

The project was particularly valuable to the small rural primary schools involved, where opportunities of this scale can be rare. Feedback from parents, teachers and community members was universally positive. 

The Arts Society’s grant helped unlock a wider programme of creative activity, enabling children to work with professional artists, develop new creative skills and connect more deeply with the landscape on their doorstep.