A children’s author and illustrator cut the ribbon at a free family art space in Brighton which is open to families for the next six weeks.
Nick Sharratt was guest of honour at Hopscotch Art Space at 50a Gloucester Road in the North Laine on Saturday. It is now open this weekend and next, and then every Wednesday to Sunday throughout September from 10am to 3pm.
No booking is required and there’s no charge. The 15 child and 15 adult spaces will be given on a first come, first served basis.
The space has been designed by independent nursery chain Hopscotch, and offers a wide range of art materials and activities, including drawing, painting, collage, or simply sitting with a sketchbook.
It’s aimed at children up to 11 years old and their grown-ups. A series of workshops is also being planned and will be announced on the website soon.
The idea for The Hopscotch Art Space came from Hopscotch chief executive officer, Philip Ford, who was inspired while on holiday with his own family to create a place where creativity and connection came before technology.
He said: “The modern world rushes childhood, and at Hopscotch we wanted to push back against that. The Art Space is somewhere families can slow down, put the screens away and spend quality time together, connecting over something as simple as drawing side by side.
“There are so many benefits to creating art and, because the space is completely free with no catch, we hope families from Brighton & Hove and across Sussex will come along and enjoy it. It’s simply a welcoming space where people can make something together.”
Nick Sharratt said: “What a wonderful and generous idea, to provide a special art space where families can come to have fun and be creative in all sorts of enjoyable, non-tech ways. I would have absolutely loved somewhere like this to go when I was a child.”
The Art Space will be run by art space host Kate Hager, who is welcoming visitors throughout the project.
It will be open until November 2026 and coincides with Hopscotch’s involvement in the Amaze Story Trail, which takes place later this autumn.
