Hopscotch Art Space, a new free creative space for families at 50a Gloucester Road in Brighton’s North Laines
Independent Sussex nursery group, Hopscotch, has created a free creative space at 50a Gloucester Road, Brighton, where children and grown-ups can slow down, make art together and enjoy quality time away from technology. It was officially launched by Brighton based children’s author and illustrator, Nick Sharratt, and will be open 10am to 3pm for the remaining weekends of August, then every Wednesday to Sunday throughout September from 10am to 3pm. No booking is required and there’s no charge.
Designed with younger children in mind, the space 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 who can explore their creativity side by side without pressure or expectation. 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.
Philip Ford, at Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries, 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, who officially opened The Hopscotch Art Space on Saturday, added: “I’m really delighted to support this brilliant initiative by Hopscotch. 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. As a Story Trail sponsor, Hopscotch hopes the Art Space will encourage even more children and families to discover the joy of creativity. The Art Space accommodates approximately 15 adults and 15 children, with entrance offered on a first-come first-serve basis.
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