Previous events
Freelance Foundations – Coastal Catalyst Future Creators
Spring 2026
In spring 2026, Chichester Creative Art Network delivered Freelance Foundations, a six-week programme in Bognor Regis supporting young creatives aged 16–25 to explore the realities and opportunities of working freelance within the creative industries.
Funded by Coastal Catalyst – Future Creators and led by Louise Duggan, founder of Chichester Creative Art Network, the programme combined practical activities, mentoring and honest conversations about creative self-employment.
Across six weekly sessions, participants explored creative skills and career pathways, personal branding, digital presence and social media, communication and professional boundaries, money and pricing, networking, and how to take their next steps.
A key part of the programme was giving participants access to people who actually work within the creative industries. Sessions were delivered by experienced creative and business professionals, who shared their own knowledge and real-world experience alongside practical exercises and Q&A. This gave participants the opportunity to ask questions, understand different routes into creative work and hear about both the opportunities and challenges of freelance life.
Participants were encouraged to explore their own direction rather than feel pressured to have a fixed career plan, leaving the programme with greater confidence, practical tools and resources to help them move forward.
Freelance Foundations was funded by Coastal Catalyst – Future Creators and delivered by Chichester Creative Art Network, led by Louise Duggan.
Voodoo Festival – Live Painting
27th June, 2026
Chichester Creative Art Network was delighted to be part of Voodoo Festival at the University of Chichester, bringing together 10 local artists for a day of live painting. Throughout the festival, artists worked at their easels, creating new pieces while visitors stopped to watch, chat and connect with them. It was a fantastic opportunity for local artists to share their work and creative process with a new audience, with plenty of conversations, connections and even a few sales along the way.
A huge thank you to the Voodoo Festival team for inviting Chichester CAN to be part of the event and for providing a space where local creativity could sit alongside the music, performance and energy of the festival. The artists had a brilliant day, and we loved being part of it.
Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026
28 March, 2026
On Saturday 28 March, Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year returned to Worthing, bringing together artists and audiences for an afternoon of live portrait painting.
Nine finalists took part in a four-hour challenge, painting from three sitters in front of a full audience. What made the day stand out wasn’t just the finished work, but the experience of watching it unfold — with many in the audience sketching along and fully engaging with the process.
The standard was incredibly high, with Sam Telford awarded Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026, alongside Milo Hartnol (second) and Kade Tame (third).
Organised by Chichester Creative Art Network, the event continues to grow as a platform for artists and a way of bringing people together through creativity.
This year also marked an important step forward — with the support of sponsors, we were able to begin properly supporting those involved, from musicians and photographers to the wider team behind the scenes.
The event continues to grow each year, and plans are already underway for 2027
Chichester CAN Receives Art and Science Award
20 March, 2026
We were honoured to receive the Arts, Science and Culture Award from Chichester City Council, recognising contributions to the local arts, science and cultural experience within the city.
The award was presented as part of the City Council’s Annual Awards, celebrating individuals and organisations who play an important role in shaping and supporting life in Chichester.
We are proud to be recognised alongside this year’s recipients:
Freedom of the City – Jess Breach
Civic Award – Julie Sandall
Community Award – Creative Beatz and Jam Café
Small Business Award – Ghost at the Feast
Each of these awards reflects a different part of the city’s community, and it is both inspiring and humbling to be included among them.
A personal thank you to Councillor Rhys Chant for his speech of introduction and for the role he has played in the journey of Chichester CAN. Through the Art Forum he established and continues to run every two months, he has created an important space for connection and conversation within the creative sector. It was within this forum that my initial idea for Chichester CAN first began to take shape.
Chichester CAN, part of Sussex Creative Art Network CIC, was created to bring creatives together, to create opportunities, and to support a more visible and connected creative presence within the city. In a relatively short time, it has grown into a network that supports collaboration, encourages participation, and helps open up new spaces for creative activity.
This recognition is shared with everyone who has been involved — whether by taking part, supporting, sponsoring, collaborating, or simply showing up along the way.
Thank you.
Eight emerging artists from across West Sussex are coming together this December to present Kaleidoscope, a three-day pop-up exhibition in the heart of Chichester.
The exhibition brings together the work of Carl Pendle, Elliot Gordon, Evan Mumby, Ferenc Matus, Jazmine Saunders, Maya Oz, Terry Siu, Tristan Chan. The group represents a diverse mix of practices — from painting and wall sculpture to mixed media and immersive installation.
The show will open with a Private View on Wednesday 17 December, 6–8pm, giving visitors a first look at the full collection and the opportunity to meet the artists behind the work. Free tickets can be reserved via QR Code.
‘As emerging artists from different backgrounds, we’re excited to share our work in Chichester, our home and creative community.’— Tristan Chan
The exhibition is supported by Chichester Creative Art Network (CAN) and Chichester City Council, as part of ongoing efforts to increase visibility and opportunities for emerging artists across the region.
Six established local artists with international exhibition and sales experience are coming together this December to present The Chi Arts Salon, a four-day pop-up exhibition in the heart of Chichester.
Running from 5th–8th December 2025, the exhibition brings together the work of Ben Cavanagh, Chloe Dowsett, Curly Mark (Mark Nixon), Louise Duggan, Samuel McGann and Wocco. The group represents a diverse mix of practices — from illustration and street-art–inspired work to painting, mixed media, and bold character design.
The show will open with a Private View on Thursday 5th December, 5.30–8.30pm, giving visitors a first look at the full collection and the opportunity to meet the artists behind the work.
“We’re excited to activate a central space and bring something vibrant to the city for December,” said Louise Duggan, artist and founder of Chichester Creative Art Network (CAN). “Chichester has an incredibly talented creative community, and this exhibition reflects that breadth and energy.”
The Chi Arts Salon highlights the strength of local artistic talent, while offering the public a chance to discover new work at an accessible, community-focused event.
This exhibition is supported by Chichester Creative Art Network (CAN) and Chichester City Council, as part of ongoing efforts to increase visibility and opportunities for artists across the region.
Our September meet-up was a special edition held in collaboration with Create South East and the Adventures + Wisdom Institute, bringing together creative entrepreneurs from across Chichester and beyond for an afternoon of inspiration, honest conversation, and community building.
The event featured talks and discussions exploring how creatives can grow their practice, develop sustainable businesses, and access the right support and networks to thrive. Attendees heard first-hand insights from creative business founders and industry professionals who shared their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.
It was a lively and engaging afternoon — full of practical advice, meaningful exchanges, and a real sense of momentum for Chichester’s growing creative community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring session. Together, we’re continuing to build a network where artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs can connect, collaborate, and grow.
Beatz in the City - Chichester
July 18th -20th, 2026
Creative Beatz Festival, curated by the Creative Beatz Charity, was a bold collision of music, street art, workshops, and pop-up creativity — bursting with energy, colour, and the voices of emerging talent.
We were proud to support the event by coordinating a group of street artists to paint live on a purpose-built wall, creating an evolving mural that captured the spirit of the day.
We also invited other artists to bring their own materials and share the space, transforming it into an open, collaborative zone of spontaneous expression. It was powerful, messy, joyful, and deeply grassroots — exactly the kind of creative energy we’re here to champion.
July 5th, 2025
Sidlesham Memorial Hall
Sidlesham Fun Day – A Community Art Celebration
The event evolved into a full community fun day, filled with colour, creativity, and connection.
We were invited by the hall to give the outside of the building a bit of a creative facelift—and we jumped at the chance. Thanks to a small budget, we were able to offer each participating artist a set fee to cover their materials. Some worked on smaller OSB boards, while others were invited to paint directly onto the building’s walls, creating a series of bold, vibrant murals and street art pieces.
We set up a dedicated area where young people could try their hand at spray painting and acrylic marker pens, making space for playful exploration and hands-on learning.
It was a joyful, collaborative afternoon, with paint flying (literally!) and families engaging with art in a relaxed, welcoming environment
The Sussex PAOTY Competition is an exciting opportunity for both amateur and professional artists to battle it out for the prestigious accolade of Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year.
Featuring celebrity sitters, guest judges, artist stalls and live entertainment throughout the day - this unmissable event takes place at The Venue, Worthing once a year.
2025 was our inaugural year having taken over the former Worthing Portrait Artist of the Year.
We’re always on the lookout for creatives who want to get involved in future events like this.
Whether you’re an emerging street artist, a painter with bold ideas, or just love working live and interacting with the public — we’d love to hear from you.
Interested in joining us next time?
