Many came to see Grayson Perry's 'Unpopular Culture' in the main gallery.

'The Not Knowing of Another,' by Hastings-based artist Kate Adams, also opened on Saturday.

Turner Prize winning artist, Perry, played curator for the exhibition of works he chose from the Arts Council's own collection.

'Unpopular Culture' gained massive media exposure in the build up to its launch, featuring in national newspapers and on several TV programmes.

Grayson Perry says the works, including paintings, photographs and bronze sculptures, hark back to a time before British art became fashionable.

The exhibition also features two of his new works - a ceramic piece featuring the artists included in the show, and a bronze skull with 'British' themed elements.

Grayson said: "I was given these piles of books by the Arts Council to look through and I could've spent forever doing it. I think it took four or five months.

"I had a look through books and thought 'I like that, I like that ...and I like that!' Then I had to work out what they had in common.

"I didn't set out to create a debate about Britishness or Englishness, but that is what seems to have happened. It also proves my thesis that perhaps the artists would not have had this much attention without a media tart like me to fly the flag for them.

"They were not unknown at the time though of course. The artists wouldn't be in the collection if the Arts Council didn't value it. I don't believe in the undiscovered genius."

"There is something very 'English' about it. It is the sort of art I like to see again, again and again because it has this subtlety and you can keep getting pleasure from it."

Many of the pieces have a 'seaside' or genteel, typically 'English' theme. Grayson admits it was a 'coincidence' his choices ended up being shown in a coastal town such as Bexhilll.

"But a happy one," he said. "It is the perfect place for it to open. It's Bexhill, the quintessentially English seaside town. And the De La Warr Pavilion is absolutely the most fitting place.

"And the weather has been kind to us, so we must be getting something right!"