STEWART Drew has overseen plenty of success stories during his lengthy tenure as Chief Executive and Director of the De La Warr Pavilion but he is certainly not resting on his laurels.
The stunning venue is the epicentre of Bexhill’s thriving arts and entertainment scene and there are plenty more exciting initiatives in the pipeline.
Bexhill News met up with Stewart, an affable individual which is in stark contrast to the steely determination which lurks within.
We meet in the depths of the pavilion on a hot summer’s day as the sunlight filtered through the doors.
“I absolutely love my job,” he said. “Bexhill is a great town with so much going for it and it is vital we play a key role on making it even more successful for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
“I was originally a “DFL” (Down from London) and came to Bexhill in the Nineties. Right from the first time I visited the De La Warr I loved its architecture. It is a magnificent building.
“Initially I came to work with my predecessor, Alan Haydon but he, sadly, passed away after a brave battle with cancer aged 61 in 2011.
“I was basically brought in to troubleshoot as I had experience of the arts and also understood business.
“At the time funding was hard to come by and it was certainly challenging to make it work initially but slowly yet surely we made progress.”
Of course, at the time of Stewart’s arrival the Grade l listed De La Warr already had a long and illustrious history.
The Modernist building was designed by renowned architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff and constructed in 1935. In 2005 after an extensive restoration it reopened as a contemporary arts centre with Stewart af the forefront of its success as he worked in tandem with Alan Haydon.
“When Alan died I was asked to take over the reins,” Stewart added. “We needed to steady the ship and build very strong partnerships, which we now have.
“The De La Warr is the focal point of our town and we are all very proud of that. It is all about providing entertainment for the public good whether that be through, art, music or other events.
“We also want to engage with the young people of our town, whether it be via work experience or employment opportunities. It is vitally important we engage with them.
“Health and wellbeing is so important, especially after the isolation so many people felt during the Covid pandemic. Fortunately that is largely behind us now, so there is every reason to feel optimistic about the future.
“It is important to note that this is a civic space designed to cater for everyone’s tastes. We want visitors to enjoy the entire experience coming to the De La Warr for whatever reason. Basically we want them to enjoy the entire spectrum of what we have to offer.”
The De La Warr also recently embarked on a tie-up with Eastbourne’s Winter Gardens venue, a venture that is sure to reap handsome dividends.
“We are keen to link up with like-minded organisations which also want to embrace the arts,” he added. “It can only be beneficial to all parties involved. It is so important to bounce off others for new initiatives and ideas.
“We also want to be a pipeline for new and emerging talent regardless of which field individuals may be interested in. For instance they may want to be a lighting technician and if that is a first step on a future career ladder then that is great. We will provide help and support wherever we can.”
One bone of contention for businesses in Bexhill has been the lack of budget hotel accommodation for visitors, which has a significantly negative effect on the night time economy.
“Yes, it is a problem, and it needs to be addressed,” Stewart acknowledged. “Accommodation and transport links are the main issues.
“If people don’t live locally but want to come and see an event at the De La Warr in the evening then more often than not they want to go out for a meal beforehand and then have a few drinks. Having a budget hotel would then give them the opportunity to extend their stay and not have to worry about getting back home immediately afterwards.
“It would complete another piece of the jigsaw and would also help to transform the economy of the town.
“Cooden is a great example of what can be done. The area is thriving and that is great but I want to see the entire town on an upward trajectory.
“But, having said that, it is absolutely crucial we keep the balance right. Take our beach for example. It is relatively quiet even during the summer months and that is why people come here, so they can enjoy the peace and tranquility that Bexhill offers.”
Stewart frequently references community spirit during a near one hours interview and never was that more amply evidence than following a recent graffiti attack on the sculpture of a black woman on the lawns behind the De La Warr as it was daubed in white paint.
“Sadly art installations like that bring out certain views voiced by a minority which is very sad and distressing,” he said.
“But the response from the hundreds of volunteers who subsequently turned up to clean the paint off the sculpture was remarkable. It was a truly humbling experience to see so many people turn up to help.
“It truly showed Bexhill at its very best and sent a very powerful message to those who were responsible.”
Finally we turn to the funding to the turn of nearly £20 million from the Government’s Levelling-Up fund for the De La Warr and Sidley.
“It is very welcome,” Stewart added. “It means we can move forward and get all our ducks in a row. Getting the funding was amazing but we are not going to make any rash decisions. It is vital we get it absolutely right.
“Obviously plans are afoot and discussions are ongoing but we will only say what they are when the time is right.”
For now, though, one thing is patently clear. The future of the De La Warr is in very good hands.
