The Coastal Office building on Worthing seafront is set to be transformed into an native underwater kelp kingdom.
Local, multi-award-winning artist Sarah Gillings MA, also known as S.o.S, will be bringing her brand of powerful and stunning visuals to the beach later this week.
The design, featuring creatures and sea habitats found in our waters, will cover the outside walls of the building, making it more eye-catching for Worthing seafront visitors, while sharing a glimpse into the underwater world just below the waves.
The improvements made to the seafront office aim to raise local awareness to the Help Our Kelp campaign and show the Council's commitment to protecting our local inshore waters. The Coastal Office team have plenty of activities on offer for people of all ages visiting the beach, with equipment to lend out for beach cleaning, beach combing activity backpacks for children, as well as a small native marine life tank, known as 'Rockpool Reef', which shows the richness of the waters off the Sussex coast and can now be visited inside.
Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing's Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “This new design will put the Worthing Coastal Office on the map while celebrating the marine life and environment found off the Sussex coast, just below the waves.
“By magnifying this underwater environment, we hope to stimulate conversations about conservation.”
Artist Sarah Gillings said, “It's an absolute pleasure and honour to have been selected to design and create this mural supporting the very important help our kelp campaign.
"All this destruction by trawlers that has been happening hidden from the human eye, has decimated our underwater habitat and precious ecosystem.
"Everyone knows about trees but not so many people know the important part that kelp plays in sinking carbon dioxide. So to have learnt about all of the wonderful underwater creatures in our waters that rely on kelp was such an interesting journey in the research and development phase of this mural. I can't wait to get started.”
Work is due to commence with the background colour being applied this week (15th September 2021).
The Worthing Coastal Office is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.
Visitors can pop in, but for talks on Rockpool Reef and to ensure a member of staff is around, it is best to book:
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