Plans for a new Christmas celebration for Brighton and Hove are taking shape and residents—including artists and community groups—are being invited to share their ideas.
A new consultation, opening this week, follows a turbulent birth, across two years, to the city's civic Christmas Market.
Much criticism was voiced after the launch in 2021, and in 2022, after a number of visitors felt the event in Valley Gardens failed to live up to expectations and its attractions were too costly.
Its organisers, E3, have stepped away earlier than expected from the contract to operate the market, with the city council citing "rising costs" as one reason.
The operator also pointed to "very tough trading conditions for the traders — and, without the traders, you won't really get a market".
For this year, Brighton and Hove City Council leaders have decided to use the opportunity to, as they put it, "co-create a new, community-led, more organic celebration for December 2023".
Initial plans are reportedly being put together and, as part of this, councillors have asked to hear from residents, including artists and creatives, craftspeople and artisans, food producers and performers.
Sites have not yet been finalised.
Lead councillor for culture, Alan Robins, said:
"Our vision is to create an exciting and community-focused event, centred around our fantastic local artisans and performers.
"We’re thinking brass bands, choirs, gifts, crafts and fun for all the family.
"We want to hear from residents from all cultural communities to make this genuinely unique.
"We’d love people to tell us what they’d like the celebration to include, along with suggested sites and locations for activities, and from groups, performers and small local businesses interested in getting involved."
Ideas and expressions of interest in taking part are requested to eventsinfo@brighton-hove.gov.uk, by Monday August 14.
All suggestions will be reviewed internally with councillors, and a detailed brief prepared for a delivery partner, who will be appointed by the end of August, to take the project forward.
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