Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft facts for kids
The Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is a special place in Ditchling, a village in East Sussex, England (50°55′19″N 0°6′59″W / 50.92194°N 0.11639°W). This museum celebrates the amazing artists and craftspeople who lived and worked in Ditchling during the 1900s. It was a very creative village back then!
Some famous people connected to the museum include Eric Gill, who was a sculptor and designed typefaces (the styles of letters you see in books). Another was Edward Johnston, who created the famous font used for the London Underground signs. There was also Hilary Pepler, a talented printer. These artists were part of a group called The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, which was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement focused on making beautiful, handmade items.
About the Museum Building
The museum is right in the middle of Ditchling village, just below Saint Margaret's Church. The building itself has a long history. It was first built in 1836 as the village's national school. It started with one classroom and a home for the schoolmaster.
Over the years, the school grew. In 1887, it was made bigger, and by 1915, it had 128 students! The school closed its doors in 1983.
How the Museum Started
After the school closed, two sisters named Hilary and Joanna Bourne saved the building from being torn down. They wanted a place to show their collection of local artworks. So, in 1985, they opened it as a museum.
In 2012, the museum got a big grant of £2.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other supporters. This money helped them make the museum even better. The building was completely updated and redesigned by Adam Richards Architects, a company from London. The improvements were finished in late 2013.
The museum was officially reopened by Nicholas Serota, a very important person in the art world. Today, the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is a registered charity. This means it's a non-profit organization that works for the public good.
