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  • Sidmouth, Devon, England, 2020 © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
  • Sarah Hall, Sense of Place, Sidmouth
  • Harriet Morris, Daydreaming, Sidmouth

Sidmouth Makes Art (SMArt)

Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub working with Sidmouth School of Art is delivering SMArt - a two-year public art project to develop Sidmouth people as the artists and Sidmouth as the artwork. Connecting people with their own creativity, with each other and with the space around us. At total of seven SMArt public art projects will be featured here.

  • CODEX - Digital and Print Project

    The CODEX Project is a collaboration with Sidmouth College students and Sidmouth School of Art.  Traditional and digital forms combine innovatively to express identity. The project takes inspiration from 'The Thamesmead Codex' by artist Bob & Roberta Smith and explores a range of techniques and processes including digital print, typography, photography and experimental printing using gelli plates.

  • Sidmouth Festival of Flags

    The Sidmouth Festival of Flags collectively tells a story about our place.  

    32 Community groups and schools in Sidmouth took part in the first year of this public art project. Together we created and displayed these newly designed banners throughout the summer season for all to enjoy.  Through this collaboration we are making Sidmouth the artwork and inspiring the community to get creative.

  • One Day Museum

    A pop-up event.  Curated by David Bellingham in which found objects were reimagined through an inventive approach to materials and playful conversation. In our museum, the exhibits were illuminated through a focus on their actuality rather than their prior usage or history - with an emphasis on things as they are rather than things as they were.  

  • Peace Garden Mural

    The Peace Gardens Mural project, led by artist Sophie Larter, is an expression of what Dissenters Hall in all its diversity means to the local community.  

  • Museums of Antiquities and Contemporary Art

    Sidmouth's town square is home to two iconic telephone boxes which have been restored and transformed into art spaces that feature Antiquities and Contemporary Art.

  • Riverside Walkway Revitalised

    This public walkway from the Ham playpark to Alma Bridge that was once unloved now features outdoor galleries and a brass rubbing trail, plus new railings, lighting, seating, planters and signage.

  • Portraiture with Wilfrid Wood

    Artist-led workshops are an opportunity to share techniques and build the skills of artists. We were delighted to welcome Wilfrid Wood to run these workshops and celebrate the contributions of volunteers who enhance the quality of life locally. 

  • Portraiture with Kat Heueston

    Kat's workshop at Buzz Coffee in Sidmouth gave volunteers in our community a wonderful opportunity to have a go at self-portrait exercises, with the aims of fostering creativity and confidence. As part of the Celebrating Volunteers project.

  • Portraiture with Natasha Hayball

    Through our artist led workshops sharing new techniques and building skills of local artists, we celebrate the contribution all those who volunteer bring to enhance the quality of life locally. 


Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub CIC

An established local culture, arts, heritage and environment organisation, SCCH is funded by the Arts Council of England to deliver the SMArt project working with Sidmouth School of Art.

Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub CIC – Promoting Fishing Heritage and Coastal Communities

About SMArt...

Each new public artwork, some larger scale which will endure and some smaller, will be curated to evolve and respond to changing issues and ideas.

Each project will develop collaborative art that is innovative and reflective of our local area, it will encourage curiosity, a sense of civic pride and creativity.

The seven projects within the SMArt programme are...

  • Riverside Walkway Revitalised

  • Digital Art & Print Combined

  • Sidmouth Community Flags

  • Sidmouth Faces - Ceramic Installation

  • Telephone Box Micro Museums

  • Peace Garden Mural at the Dissenters Hall

  • Sidmouth Wallspaces - maxi and mini

SMArt Aims to ...
empower creative confidence particularly in young people but also multigenerationally
inspire new collaborations and trying new things
educate through the development of new skills with a variety of techniques
engage new audiences to connect with art as makers and responders
share the benefits of art as self exploration, expression of ideas, sense of purpose & wellbeing