Spring is the season of rebirth, and here at Charleston our work to return bolder, more beautiful, more resilient and more useful to our communities continues while our doors are closed.

Thanks to the support of funders like you, specialist craftspeople have been on site and the front elevation of the house has been covered in scaffolding as we work to remove the paint from the doors and window frames, restore rotten wood and repaint the house. We hope to be able to complete the remaining elevations before we reopen.

With significant restrictions still in place for large gatherings, Charleston Festival is not able to go ahead this year. Instead we have been working to deliver a weekend of digital events from 9-11 April, the Charleston Festival Edit, featuring talks, readings and performances.

We've also been busy creating a new temporary stage in the barnyard for a summer season of talks, discussions, performances and music, as well as planning for the return of next year's Charleston Festival which will take place from 19-29 May 2022. Save the dates! We hope it will be the most wonderful edition ever to herald its return after an unwelcome two year pause.

Just in time to see the tulips and daffodils bloom, our gardens are now open to visit for a dose of springtime tranquillity, inspiration and joy. The gardens are free to visit and you can stay as long as you like, but pre-booking is essential to ensure a safe and relaxing experience in line with the latest guidance on social distancing. ⁣

Following the latest government announcement around the easing of restrictions in England, we plan to open our house, the Nina Hamnett and Lisa Brice exhibitions on 19 May.

And do not worry - we have not forgotten about your rewards - we are working with Art Fund, the artists and suppliers to create your unique rewards and are still aiming to have them land on your doormat in time for Charleston's reopening on 19 May.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our campaign to Reopen Charleston. We've come a long way together we can't wait to see you soon! 👋