The vibrant visual arts scene and thriving community of artists, galleries and organisations are among the highlights of living in and visiting Brighton & Hove, and an essential part of the city’s creative economy.
Every year, our museums, galleries, open studios, festivals, street art and installations draw thousands of people to the city, boosting the local economy and providing careers and opportunities for residents and graduates.
The city is home to world-class creative education institutions a has a much higher than the national average number of artists and arts organisations.
The value of visual arts extends far beyond culture. Visual arts foster community cohesion, supporting health and wellbeing, tackling inequality and ensuring that everyone in Brighton & Hove can share in the city’s creative life.
But despite these strengths, visual arts in the city face significant challenges, ranging from the impact of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis to reductions in funding and the loss of key venues.
To help tackle this, the council joined forces with Arts Council England, the Brighton Visual Arts Coalition and the Brighton & Hove Culture Alliance, to commission Cultural Associates Oxford to produce Re:Frame - a detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities for the city’s visual arts sector.
Re:Frame has been produced following extensive discussions with local artists, arts organisations and institutions. Consultations included a survey, open to anyone working in the sector, and two in-person ‘Innovation Sprint’ events, which provided a platform for a wide range of discussions.
The Re:Frame analysis reflects the voices and ambitions of artists, organisations, and communities across Brighton & Hove, setting out clear recommendations and practical steps to strengthen the city’s creative infrastructure, support talent, and embed art in every aspect of city life.
Welcoming the analysis report, Councillor David McGregor, Cabinet Member for Economy, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “Brighton & Hove is a city shaped by creativity, independence and people who are prepared to do things differently. Our visual arts sector is central to that identity, bringing people together, supporting jobs and making our city a better place to live, work and visit.
“Our creative industries contribute more than £1.5 billion to the local economy and support over 16,000 jobs. But the value of art goes far beyond economics. It supports wellbeing, strengthens communities, and gives people the chance to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the life of the city.
“This report sets out practical ways to support artists, protect creative spaces and make visual art more accessible to everyone. The sector has faced huge challenges, but it remains ambitious and full of ideas.
“As a council, we will continue to champion the visual arts and create exciting opportunities, such as our plans for an internationally significant art gallery at Black Rock, for which we are currently seeking investment though our new seafront prospectus.
“We will keep working with partners to keep creativity at the heart of Brighton & Hove’s future.”
Using the feedback and research, Re:Frame presents a series of recommendations which aim to strengthen the visual arts in Brighton & Hove and help the city to become:
Peter Heslip, Director, Visual Arts and Brighton, South East, Arts Council England, said: “Brighton & Hove has an exceptional visual arts community, and Re:Frame sets out a strong vision for its future.
“By working together, we can support artists and ensure creativity remains central to the city’s identity and economy.
“Arts Council England is pleased to support this shared vision, helping to ensure Brighton & Hove remains a place where artists can thrive and where visual arts are accessible to everyone.”
Following on from the publication of Re:Frame, artists, funders, organisations and institutions are being invited to an open meeting to meet members of the project board and discuss the analysis. The date for this meeting will be shared through relevant networks and social media.