Opened in March 2012 as Jerwood Gallery, the £5 million construction costs were funded entirely by Jerwood Foundation.  Designed by architectural practice, HAT Projects, the gallery was awarded a Public and Community architectural award from Sussex Heritage Trust in 2012 and in 2013 a Civic Trust Award and a National RIBA Award.

In 2017 the gallery became a UK registered charity and was awarded NPO Status by Arts Council England.  As its principal stakeholder funder 2012-2019, the Jerwood Foundation supported the gallery with grants and payments exceeding £2.6 million.

 Photo: © Ioana Marinescu

In July 2019, the gallery relaunched as Hastings Contemporary and operates with full financial and operational independence. In February 2022, Jerwood Foundation announced that it was going to donate the award-winning art gallery building to Hastings Borough Council for the benefit and wellbeing of the people of Hastings and visitors to the town. The gift was completed in June 2023.

The iconic modern building was leased back to Hastings Contemporary, the town’s innovative public modern art gallery and an independent charity.

“I am very pleased that this award-winning gallery building will live on in the safe hands of Hastings Borough Council and will continue to benefit Hastings’ residents and visitors to the region. Accessing art of high quality and importance should not be the unique preserve of the inhabitants of our capital and other cities. At Jerwood we believe it is crucial that projects like this bring world-class art to communities like Hastings to help not just with regeneration but also to inspire talent that exists across our nation. We are proud of what has been achieved in Hastings and, by giving this beautiful building to the town’s people, for Jerwood in Hastings our hopes have been fulfilled. We wish the town, Council and gallery a very successful and culture-rich future.” - Alan Grieve, Chairman of Jerwood Foundation

 Photo: © Pete Jones