We are open today 12-5pm for The Thinking Hand.
We are open today 12-5pm for The Thinking Hand.
We are open today 12-5pm for The Thinking Hand.
Our Story
Who we are

We are Devonshire Collective (DC), a cultural and community organisation rooted in Eastbourne’s Devonshire ward.

We support grassroots arts and culture, create opportunity for communities and deliver a dynamic, high-quality creative and artistic programme where everyone is welcome.

We operate from two spaces in Seaside:

·    VOLT, our gallery space where we commission and support emerging and underrepresented artists to connect people and place through exhibitions and public programmes. 

·    DC Learn Studio, which hosts our learning and participation programme for families, young people and communities.

Our galleries and programmes are free and open to all.

This is what we do:

·    Support artists to create ambitious, high-quality exhibitions that respond to our site and context. 

·    Offer a variety of artist development programmes and act as a support system for artists working on the South coast. 

·    Collaborate with community partners and residents.

·    Widen access and participation for everyone in our community.

We are Devonshire Collective (DC), a cultural and community organisation rooted in Eastbourne’s Devonshire ward.

Our vision is for the Devonshire ward to flourish as a beacon of creativity, connection and positive change, fuelled by the transformative power of art.

We deliver on our vision through our three strategic priorities:

  1. Champion emerging and underrepresented contemporary visual artists in the Southeast – building careers, practices and networks.
  2. Inspire children and young people as the next generation of creatives.
  3. Foster a strong sense of community through place-based art initiatives.

The values that hold our work together are:

  • Generosity – The work isn't about us, it’s about what we can do to make a difference in our neighbourhood.
  • Integrity – Valuing and upholding quality of process as much as outcome, ensuring we do things in the right way.
  • Relevance – What we do should reflect the backgrounds, perspectives and interests of the people who live here.
  • Recognition – For people who live here and who visit alike to realise how exciting our neighbourhood is.
  • Responsibility – Our spaces and resources are for our community, we should do what's right by them.

Alongside regular off-site programming in the community, we currently operate from two spaces on Seaside Road:

  • VOLT, our gallery space where we commission and support emerging and underrepresented artists to connect people and place through exhibitions and public programmes.
  • DC Learn Studio, which hosts our learning and participation programme for families, young people and communities.

Our galleries and programmes are free and open to all.

Who we are

We are Devonshire Collective (DC), a cultural and community organisation rooted in Eastbourne’s Devonshire ward.

We support grassroots arts and culture, create opportunity for communities and deliver a dynamic, high-quality creative and artistic programme where everyone is welcome.

We operate from two spaces in Seaside:

·    VOLT, our gallery space where we commission and support emerging and underrepresented artists to connect people and place through exhibitions and public programmes. 

·    DC Learn Studio, which hosts our learning and participation programme for families, young people and communities.

Our galleries and programmes are free and open to all.

This is what we do:

·    Support artists to create ambitious, high-quality exhibitions that respond to our site and context. 

·    Offer a variety of artist development programmes and act as a support system for artists working on the South coast. 

·    Collaborate with community partners and residents.

·    Widen access and participation for everyone in our community.

Staff team
Board of Directors

Marie Burgess
Noelle Collins
Chris Connelley
Lucy Day (Chair)
Steve Dwyer (Treasurer)
Ruth Melville
Liz Trethewey
Nicholas Roberts

Community Advisory Panel

Margaret Bannister
Devonshire West ward Councillor

Judith Alder
Artist

Chris Dixon
Cultural Industries Manager

Gaynor Sádlo
Artist and professor of Occupational Therapy

Mana Hashtroudi
The Sanctuary Café

Emma Millar
Community Development Officer, 3VA

Debbie Harris
Head of Art, Bourne Primary School

Maria Tayao
Services and Projects Coordinator, Diversity Resource International  

DC connects with people from all walks of life showing us that when it comes to creativity – we all have a voice.
Jenny Williams, Independent Producer and Founding Director, Take the Space
There’s always something going on that you can enjoy. There was an event that I went with my family and it was fun.
Anwen, aged 12
Lovely little exhibition, my daughter really enjoyed doing the art. Gina is a great teacher and has a vast knowledge with great skills. The children love her.
Eastbourne parent
DC connects with people from all walks of life showing us that when it comes to creativity – we all have a voice.
Jenny Williams, Independent Producer and Founding Director, Take the Space
There’s always something going on that you can enjoy. There was an event that I went with my family and it was fun.
Anwen, aged 12
Lovely little exhibition, my daughter really enjoyed doing the art. Gina is a great teacher and has a vast knowledge with great skills. The children love her.
Eastbourne parent
This week
Networx After School Club
16
September
2025
14
July
2026

Free, after school art group every Tuesday for 6–11’s for Networx registered families only.

Find out more
Home Education Art Course 6–11s
18
September
2025
16
July
2026

A weekly art course for 6–11’s. We will cover both 2D and 3D work with a variety of painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, and building a personal sketchbook to keep.

Find out more
Upcoming
No upcoming DC LEARN events.
Currently showing
The Thinking Hand
Tanvi Kant, Richard Phoenix, Tom Pope and Anne-Marie Watson
13
May
2026
6
June
2026

The Thinking Hand is a process-led exhibition by artists Tanvi Kant, Richard Phoenix, Tom Pope and Anne-Marie Watson. The project unfolds through participation and exchange, engaging with our neighbourhood and local communities, turning Devonshire Collective’s gallery into a site of shared making.

Find out more
Upcoming
Tessa Boffin: Where We Touch the Archive
18
July
2026
9
September
2026

We are collaborating on a major project, with Photoworks, BACKLIT and Aspex, exploring queer and feminist photography in response to the archive of artist and activist Tessa Boffin.

Find out more
DC connects with people from all walks of life showing us that when it comes to creativity – we all have a voice.
Jenny Williams, Independent Producer and Founding Director, Take the Space
There’s always something going on that you can enjoy. There was an event that I went with my family and it was fun.
Anwen, aged 12
Lovely little exhibition, my daughter really enjoyed doing the art. Gina is a great teacher and has a vast knowledge with great skills. The children love her.
Eastbourne parent
Learn more about us
Exhibitions at
Find out more