Music, fire and deep sea divers in the street

Coastal Currents will be launched at Jour de Fete at the De La Warr Pavilion on Sunday with music, film, flame and performance.

The spectacular 8.30pm show in the Pavilion grounds is called S.W.A.L.K and is staged by the team that won international acclaim for their finale performance at the Manchester Commonwealth Games last year.

Cuban bass player Jimmy Martinez and English pianist Sara McGuiness are joined by other musicians at 9.15pm to get the crowd dancing.

And at 10.55pm flags, banners, fiore and music feature in Red Earth - The Return.

Park Life will see 12 spectacular sculptures on display in Egerton Park in a variety of styles and media between September 1 and October 30.

A map and guide of the exhibits is available from The De La Warr, Bexhill Museum and Bexhill TIC.

The other major head-turning event will be an extraordinary day of music, slapstick and performance in Devonshire Road on Sunday September 21. Planned to coincide with the Anglo-Continental Market, Coastal Currents in the Streets will see colourful characters such as aristocrats, butlers, football referees. deep sea divers, bullfighters and invisible men entertain and bewilder the crowds.

The party will include performances from Bexhill youngsters devised at Street Theatre Workshops throughout September at All Saints Church Hall, Sidley.

Martin Ryan, Rother's arts development officer, said: "Coastal Currents has benefited from extra funding this year with the hope of promoting the theme that arts and culture are playing a strong role in regenerating seaside towns in the UK. Organisers also hope exhibitions like Park Life will bring contemporary art to the attention of those who have never seen it before."

The festival is subtitled 'art where you least expect it.'

The De La Warr is a natural setting for some Coastal Currents events, one of which is the Grennan and Sperandio exhibition throughout September.

At Bexhill Museum local poet Nathaniel Matthews will work with older people in creating poems and stories in celebration of Bexhill's heritage as the birthplace of British motor racing.from September 29-October 11.

Six celebrated Bexhill artists - Val Flack, Michelle Drewett, Steve Fletcher, Maggie Carpenter, Michael Irish and Iris Wells - will open their studio doors to the public on September 13, 14, 20 and 21 from 11am-5pm.

Youngsters also get a chance at DJing and making their own tunes at workshops at Sidley Young People's Centre throughout the month.

Coastal Currents also features events in Hastings and Rye.

It is being promoted by Hastings Borough Council and Rother District Council.

Details of all Coastal Currents events are available from Bexhill Tourist Information Centre on 732208.