Join us in celebrating the rich heritage of the America Ground in Hastings on 20th March from 3pm onwards.
Join Hastings Commons on 20th March for an action-packed afternoon and evening of celebration to commemorate the highlights of the four-year Trinity Triangle Heritage Action Zone (TTHAZ) project which ends this March. From the beginning, the programme sought to tackle the twin issues of dereliction and gentrification in the America Ground area through key capital building restorations such as the Observer Building and 12 Claremont, while encouraging diverse and idiosyncratic expressions of local pride through cultural projects. The 20th of March event is an opportunity to learn more about the varied community activities that have taken place over the last four years and contribute to thinking about the next steps to continue heritage-focused community-led regeneration in Hastings & St Leonards.
Programme of Events
Drop in to the Observer Building 3pm – 5.30pm to see showcases of previous projects and take a tour of the whole building. Try your hand at the Trinity Triangle VR game, enjoy Emma Harding’s Living Memories artwork, and check out the new Observer Building history room which tracks the history of this fascinating building in its centenary year. Tours will be at 4pm, 5.15pm and 5.30pm.
Between 5pm – 6pm, there will also be an Open Space event in the Observer Building board room in which we can share learnings and thoughts together on the Trinity Triangle Heritage Action Zone project. This event will be facilitated by independent evaluator Neil Smith, alongside two staff members.
In the evening, join Hastings Commons from 6pm (for a 6.30pm start) in the Observer Building event space for the launch of the new book Back from the Brink – The Observer Building: its rise, fall and rescue with a panel discussion featuring the editorial and writing team. Emma Harding will talk about her recent mixed media Living Memories project followed by a series of snappy presentations of projects supported by the Heritage Action Zone. The evening will finish with excerpts from the forthcoming ‘America Ground – The Legend’ musical play (Fetch Theatre), with its startling resonance in the current local housing crisis.
The event is free for all to attend but does require a ticket for entry for both the drop-in afternoon sessions and the evening showcase. Tickets should be booked in advance via Eventbrite or by telephone on 01424 230222.
Accessibility: The Observer Building is fully wheelchair accessible, but please note tours are only recommended for those with good mobility as lift access currently only reaches the 1st floor. Refreshments will be available to purchase from the café throughout the day. When registering for tickets, please let us know if you have any access requirements and we will do our best to support these. Please email obx@hastingscommons.com or call 01424 230222 if you would like to discuss any access requirements.
