‘After living here all my life (63 years) this is THE BEST experience I’ve had on this lovely pier.’
Working in partnership with Worthing Borough Council, Revolutionary Arts devised and delivered this annual event.
The last event was held in 2010, when things took a vintage turn under the curatorial hand of Dan Thompson. Make Do & Mend, Dig for Victory and Keep Calm and Carry On. Three well-known messages from the past which have a particular resonance today inspired the one-day festival held on Worthing’s art deco pier.
Pier Day celebrated the architecture of Worthing’s award-winning art deco pier and seaside style from the 1930s-1950s. With a topical nod to an era that mixed austerity and celebration, Revolutionary Arts brought together artists, community groups and local businesses to celebrate grow-your-own, local food, austerity and the spirit of make do and mend with a great big street party on the pier. Revolutionary Arts also commissioned a range of original artworks inspired by the pier.
Attractions included: Artists, Bike clinic, Bookstall, Calypso, Cooking demonstrations, Crafts, Dance, Facepainting, Felt flower barrow, Food tasting, Knitting, Make-up 50s style, Patchwork, Punch & Judy, Seed swap, Stocks, Tattoo designs from 30s-50s, Tin can gardening, Vintage & retro stalls and more.
Spilt Milk Say Dance, inspired by social dance crazes of the 20th Century, performed up and down the pier. Textile magician Madam Salami handmade 250 metres of bunting from vintage fabric; while Mark Scott-Wood paraded flags and banners up and down the deck.
A Strandline walk along Worthing foreshore with Dr Barbara Pilley-Shaw (Transition Town Worthing) took people around and under the pier. And Professor Glyn Edward’s traditional Punch & Judy was set up on the prom outside the Pavilion Theatre.
‘If we were on holiday and came across pier day, we’d think it was the kind of town we wanted to move to’ Helena, Worthing resident
Revolutionary Arts 