In our last episode we explored Shelter through art. This time, we turn to literature — and to the way stories have always carried us into places of shelter: houses, huts, castles, bedrooms, tents, hidden rooms, imagined worlds.

But in literature, shelter is rarely only a setting. The places characters inhabit reveal who holds power, who belongs, who is protected and who remains outside. A house can represent safety, but it can also become a prison. A room can offer privacy, but it can also conceal someone from danger. A wall can protect a community, but it can also isolate that community from the world beyond it.

Here are eight works that show just how differently literature has imagined shelter — and why they matter to anyone thinking about THE SUSSEX 2026: Shelter.

Shelter through art: Hiroshige, Van Gogh, Henry Moore, Do Ho Suh and more, explored ahead of THE SUSSEX 2026 open call. Submissions close 30 September.

Fabrica Resonance: Selected Artworks and Artists

We Wunt Be Druv: Sussex Identity in Contemporary Art

Few places in England hold such a strong sense of identity as Sussex. Its landscapes, traditions, and cultural voices have shaped a county that feels distinct — a place where the idea of belonging is closely tied to land, memory, and community. The phrase “We Wunt Be Druv,” Sussex dialect for “We will not be driven,” captures that enduring spirit. It is both a declaration of independence and a quiet expression of pride in place.

An easy to follow guide on how you can take photographs with your Smartphone of your art

The theme for this years annual open call exhibition is Dualism.

Read Jo’s explanation and exploration of the theme and how to interpret it in this blog post.

Sussex has been the muse for many of the greatest artists that ever lived

Buy from living artists, the dead don’t need the money