Brighton & Hove has long been known as the engine room for visual arts on the south coast, with art schools and a healthy independent and informal landscape delivering a plethora of new talent over decades. However, over the past few years there have been highly impactful changes in the infrastructure of visual arts provision across Brighton & Hove. Addressing the visual arts sector has been identified as high priority for artists, audiences, and organisations.

It is now essential to understand the state of the sector, the green shoots, established practice, and leadership, as well as understanding gaps in provision. This is an opportunity to really comprehend and articulate visual arts in the city, our individual and collective strengths/offer and what makes our city’s visual arts sector so unique. Through collaboration and partnership with the sector, educational and local authority partners we will create a forward-facing plan for the sector’s continued investment and growth across the next 10 years, in line with the Council’s vision for celebrating culture and creativity.

The Council currently supports our cultural and creative sectors, but as with all local authorities, needs to work collaboratively and strategically to understand priorities and find innovative and collaborative solutions with those sectors. The Council seek, maintain, and support excellent working relationships with cultural & creative stakeholders in the city and brings convening power to bear on the Visual Arts sector.