New Public Art Strategy Unveiled For Brighton And Hove

Wednesday, 27 April 2022 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

From the seafront Kiss Wall and the Norfolk Square Dolphins, to the annual Burning the Clocks parade and colourful lighting under the London Road viaduct, Brighton & Hove has public art woven into its fabric.

Future development and growth in the city will bring many more opportunities for public art, and this has led to the creation of an exciting new Public Art Strategy.

The strategy, One Landscape Many Views, provides a framework for public art in the city over the next ten years.

The strategy has been put together following widespread conversations with people directly involved with public art in the city, from cultural and heritage organisations, community groups and residents to councillors, council staff and public funders.

The strategy aims to:

Enhance the quality of the public realm, including existing heritage sites and new environments
Support the city’s cultural sector capturing and promoting the city’s creativity, diversity and personality
Improve the city’s reputation as the most sustainable place to live, work and visit,
Enhance the city’s current cultural offer and rich year-round programme of festivals and events
Enable Brighton & Hove residents to experience high quality public art.

Public art can be permanent, temporary or time limited. It can be a performance or something to experience, contemplate or view, listen to, or participate in and can create connections between people, places and ideas.

New projects already planned for the city include a large-scale public artwork at Brighton Station, which is being commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council in partnership with Brighton CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts), University of Brighton.

Welcoming the new strategy, Council Leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said:

“Working together with artists, cultural and heritage organisations and the wider community we have produced the Public Art Strategy, with a public art toolkit for property developers.

“In the coming weeks the council will announce a series of public art commissions across the city to align with the new public art strategy.

"This will build on Brighton & Hove’s long history of arts and culture to help sustain the city as a prosperous and attractive place to live, work and visit.”

To request a printed copy of the Public Art Strategy, email: arts@brighton-hove.gov.uk