Daring to be Different
Writers, residents, health professionals, artists and entrepreneurs were among 150 delegates who met in Brighton this week - Monday 12 November 2018 - for a Cultural Summit to discuss art in public spaces.
The Cultural Summit, hosted by the Arts & Creative Industries Commission, is one of a series of events for the cultural community and its stakeholders to meet and take forward ideas aligned with Brighton & Hove’s new cultural framework, ‘Daring to be Different’.
The framework, ratified by the city council in September 2018, aims to build on the city’s cultural reputation, strengthen its creative economy, break down barriers, provoke debate and enable collaboration.
The Cultural Summit programme explored a range of topics including, graffiti and street art, the role of art in the community and how art and urban design can contribute to the wellbeing of a place and its residents.
Speakers on the day included all the Framework strand leads. There was an opportunity to listen to a range of local, national and international case studies about art in public spaces including local projects presented by Same Sky and B.Fest (Brighton’s Youth Festival), national projects presented by Metal, Emergency Exit Arts & Morag Myerscough and international projects from Nantes and Lisbon.
Brighton & Hove is renowned for its culture and creativity. Its assets include the Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe, two of the largest arts festivals in the country, the world famous Royal Pavilion, internationally significant museum collections, a large number of regionally and locally significant artists, producing companies and presenting venues, and a nationally recognised creative industries sector.
Andrew Comben, chair of the Commission, said: “Our aim is to create conversations and debate about how the arts and culture can contribute to all our lives and for arts organisations to work in new ways with other sectors, combining our efforts and resources in common cause for the benefit of our whole community.”
Tourism, Development & Culture Committee chair Alan Robins added: “Culture is a big part of what makes Brighton & Hove an attractive and special place. The city is justly proud of its festivals, museums and venues, public art and wealth of creative talent.
“The Cultural Framework is important because it provides a direction and blueprint for partners to continue to work together to maintain and build on the city’s cultural offer.”
'Daring to be Different’ sets out how the council, the cultural and creative sector and other partners will work together to improve cultural planning and ensure inclusion with the widest possible opportunity for all to benefit and participate in arts and cultural activities.
The framework has five themes, with inclusion weaving across all 5 work strands:
– Living well (linking health and wellbeing to art and culture);
– Rethinking our place (opening up opportunities for people with limited or no access to culture);
– Creative coast (working with the Greater Brighton Economic Board to tap into the region’s economic, cultural and creative potential);
– Brighton experience (developing events, public art, pop-ups and celebrating heritage and public spaces);
– Bursting the bubbles (connecting artists, learning opportunities and creative people in the city, and encouraging networking across different disciplines)
New strategies for events, heritage and public art will be developed to support the Cultural Framework.
Brighton & Hove City Council is supporting cultural activities by exploring funding and investment opportunities for the sector and working with communities to break down barriers and enable everyone to take part in the city’s cultural life.
Council officers are working with the University of Brighton to produce a programme of ‘creative provocations’ aimed at encouraging public dialogue about the role of culture in the city.