The Towner is one of the better regional art galleries in England, housed in a purpose-built modernist building near the railway station that opened in 2009. The permanent collection focuses on 20th-century British art, with particular strength in Eric Ravilious — the Sussex-born artist whose wood-engravings and watercolours of the English landscape remain some of the most loved works in British art. The Towner holds the largest public collection of Ravilious in the country.
Temporary exhibitions are ambitious for a gallery of its size and frequently draw touring shows from major national museums. The building's light-filled upper floors and the quality of the permanent collection make it well worth a visit even if the temporary show is not particularly relevant to you. Admission to the permanent collection is free; temporary exhibitions are ticketed. Located near the railway station and the Congress Theatre — an easy walk from the seafront.