Eight creative projects are now up and running as the ABCD Plan for Cultural Recovery in Brighton & Hove moves up a gear.  The diverse and exciting programme will be delivered by some of the fantastic creative organisations in the city, thanks to over £250,000 of new funding raised to support the recovery of creative freelancers and businesses, which will, in turn, feed the city’s recovery, particularly as we head out of the summer season.

Three projects will focus on creating new experiences for both residents and visitors.

Wayfaring Trail – Wolfstromë Design 

Wolfströme Design is an award-winning Brighton-based studio that has been specialising in cultural placemaking for over 15 years. Richard Wolfströme has been working with the Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District team to create a trail that will encourage and entice people to explore the city centre through a series of artistic interventions in the public realm. New designs will be commissioned from local artists that will celebrate the city, emphasising that it is people who make place. 

Third Thursdays: videoclub

Third Thursdays will pilot a new monthly arts and events platform for the city.  New outdoor work will be presented and existing venues, organisations and businesses in the city centre will be invited to contribute activities and events. Third Thursdays will be curated and produced by videoclub, an artists’ moving image and digital culture agency from Brighton, showing artists’ work across the UK and internationally. They will be commissioning artists to make new work to animate the public realm in the city centre, through projections, live music and a few surprises!

Alternative Tours – Sussex Dance Network

Sussex Dance Network will develop and deliver a series of four artist-led Alternative Tours that offer new perspectives on the city and tell unheard stories.  The tours will be led by visually impaired cabaret artist Ebony Rose Dark, Ram Samocha (Draw to Perform) & Enayball who will work with residents who use wheelchairs, Angela El-Zeind, who will collaborate with and amplify local women’s voices, and Anna Des Clayes, working with residents from Roma, Gypsy & traveller communities. 

Five projects will directly support creative & cultural businesses and freelancers, helping them to recover from the pandemic, and find more sustainable and inclusive ways to grow in the future.

Profiling Creative Businesses comms campaign – Storythings

This comms campaign will shine a light on the creative sector, and the rich cultural ecology that makes up the city. Brighton-based company Storythings will showcase what makes this city unique and world class through its creative and cultural fabric. 

Creative Pop-Up Training – Meanwhile Space

Experts in the temporary use of empty spaces, Meanwhile will offer webinars and resources with practical advice for artists, creative organisations and landlords thinking about Pop-Up projects.

Igniter Events Series – Always Possible

Brighton-based Always Possible will curate a programme of events with national and international speakers, sharing inspiring ideas, exploring new ways of working and recharging resilience, designed specifically for creative workers living and working across Greater Brighton.

Creative & Cultural Leadership Support – The Hub

After the challenges of the past 18 months, this project will provide time for reflection, and support creative and cultural leaders to adapt to future challenges and economic shocks. 

Culture in Our City website updates – LMNOP

Creative design studio LMNOP are working on updates to the Culture in Our City website to make it more responsive and useful to the creative community.

Funding for the programme has come from the government’s Welcome Back Fund, from project partners the Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District and from Arts Council England, who recently awarded £49,000 to projects to enliven the city centre between November – March 2022.

Keep a close eye on the Culture in Our City Newsletter and website over the coming weeks, for more details on the commissioning of new work and how to apply for the professional development opportunities.