Next up we have Chair of StrongBack Trustees, founder of HerStory Rye and Rye resident Susan Benn.
How long have you lived in Rye?
I moved to Rye in 2018
What are you working on at the moment?
I have three projects here in Rye: SongMaps Rye, Rye News (I am on the board and a reporter as well as co-instigator of The Rye News Press Club at Rye College) and The HerStory Rye…a living archive of portraits and oral histories of women working in Rye.
“It’s vital to support and encourage and develop creative imaginative solutions to life in these times of so many threats to survival, especially in small coastal communities.”
How does living in Rye inspire your work?
The people, the land and seascape and my view of the Breed Vally across the marsh as far as the eye can see….and the fact that I have time now to do all of this volunteer work at my own pace with like minded kindred spirits.
If you were to take a stranger somewhere in Rye where would that be?
I would take them to the sea out of season on a sunny day. Or the nature reserve in any weather.
What’s your favourite thing about living in Rye?
Rye has everything you need to sustain a good life. I especially love the community spirit (evidenced during Covid) and the wonderful KINO cinema for world class movies and opera and theatre on 3 screens.
What role do you believe art plays in community development?
It’s vital to support and encourage and develop creative imaginative solutions to life in these times of so many threats to survival, especially in small coastal communities. SongMaps is dedicated to building awareness of hanging weather patterns and climate resilience through cross disciplinary research, music and words.
Does the collaboration with StrongBack Productions make any difference to what you’re
doing? How does it make a difference?
My experience of creative collaboration with Dominique and the Strongback team, the board of StrongBack trustees and artists working with StrongBack is a hugely rewarding part of my life in these days. Our work with so many committed talented people feels relevant, timely and hopeful.
To find out more about HerStory Rye click here!
And to read more about Susan and the inspiration for HerStory in Rye News here
StrongBack Productions is thrilled to have been awarded a grant from a private Estate Fund in support of their SongMaps Rye Programme.
Registered Company No 8767837 Registered Charity No 1167818
