ARTISTS OPEN HOUSES MAY FESTIVAL 2023

The UK’s first, and now the largest, event of its kind will be throwing open the doors of homes and studios across Brighton & Hove and Sussex this month. Artists Open Houses (AOH) encourages audiences and artists to connect in a multitude of self-curated, non-traditional art spaces. Around 200 houses and studios will be displaying some of the area’s finest creators and makers.

“Everyone is exceptional in one way or another!” says Festival Director, Judy Stevens. “AOH embraces the entire community, welcoming artists of all ages and at all stages of their careers: school children, university students, emerging artists, residents of seniors’ centres, neuro-diverse artists, artists with mental health issues and with learning disabilities; also established artists and those with national and international reputations.”

Run in parallel with Brighton and Fringe Festivals, AOH’s ethos is wholly inclusive. It encourages participation from artists and makers of all ages, at all stages of their careers and from all parts of the community, including school and college students and artists who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised from the mainstream.

It’s Abi Chambers’ first time exhibiting at AOH, and she is unequivocal about the opportunities it offers people to discover new work, as well as the platform it gives emerging talent. “It’s a great way to meet and see work from other artists. They’ve given me loads of advice and insights. It’s also brilliant to discover other mediums.”

Exhibiting at The Coach House in Kemptown, she’s developed her practice in needle felting. Her work is greatly influenced by the natural environment and the amazing colours provided by nature. She takes a photograph of something and recreates it with wool fibres, evoking a beguiling sense of depth and memory. “For me it’s a feeling, how a moment in time can resonate - and how I can take that feeling and turn it, to produce something which inspires.” of city-wide schemes as part of Brighton Fringe. Artists Open Houses was then established in 2004, producing a brochure uniting all the individual trails and creating an identity separate from the similarly flourishing Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe.

While events have grown exponentially, AOH has remained true to its roots, consulting extensively with the 1,000 artists involved annually on the direction moving forwards. Stevens is keen to highlight how everyone is welcomed. “Both artist participants and audiences are welcome to engage with AOH - to explore their own creativity and be inspired by the ideas, techniques and practices of others.”

Patsy McArthur suggests AOH helps the city’s artists and makers to meet and visit each other in their own environments and forge important local creative connections. “It offers an invaluable opportunity to have meaningful dialogue about our work with collectors, trial new ideas and receive immediate feedback. Artists are often introverted souls who hide away in our studios and behind social media. AOH forces us into real conversations with real people in real time, there’s nothing like it!”

She’s showing her latest series, Night Moves, in her own home on Marine Parade. Using drawing and painting, she explores the figure in motion: leaping, soaring, flying and falling, along with the associated emotions which can be triggered in the viewer. Her work conveys a sense of power and energy or potential energy, along with the fragmented and fleeting nature of experience. “For art fans I think they love the casual environment that AOH offers, and I think they get a deeper understanding of who the artists are as people from meeting them in their homes and studios.”

The event can be traced back to 1982, when Ned Hoskins began inviting visitors into his home to view his own work and that of a group of friends. Other local artists started doing the same, forming the Fiveways Artists Group. It proved instantly popular, and other groups began popping up in other neighbourhoods – leading to the creation

There is a joyful garden party mood in the air for this year’s AOH, especially with the Coronation looming and festivities back to full strength after the pandemic. Exceptional art is being shown in some very beautiful places, including Stuart and Mark and Friends’ large meadow garden with mosaics in Fiveways. Seven Dials has Alizeti Creative, which boasts a beautiful outside space to accompany the display of mosaic sculptures, Japanese fabrics, ceramics and jewellery.

Hove’s Art in Bloom features painting, plus sculptures in ceramic, paper and bronze, all hung in a walled garden. Along the coast in Ovingdean, Mike Levy Pots and Prints invites visitors into a purposebuilt home studio, surrounded by a lush garden, where domestic tableware, large garden pots and tiles, posters and cards are for sale. There are more ceramics even further along the coast, in Newhaven, at South Heighton Pottery garden, along with homemade food.

Perhaps one of the most enticing venues is Kemp Town’s The Secret Garden - a huge oasis of green hidden from the city by a high flint wall. With a charming café serving excellent food by TABLE, visitors can marvel at the monumental, crash-landed figures of David Breuer-Weill. Over in Ditchling, Dymocks End Studio is an award-winning Sussex Downs-garden boasting an orchard and an ancient well. This hidden, peaceful place is the setting for sculptures and fabric installations. Or music fans can enjoy a Venezuelan Garden Concert at Encounters in West Hove, accompanied by some delicious food.

Stevens tells me the Brighton & Hove area has more than its fair share of artists and makers. “It has long had a reputation as being an area of great creativity; but with ever-diminishing affordable studio space in Brighton and Hove, it is increasingly hard for young artists to maintain a base here. It is really important everyone supports their local artist community, buying from local artist and makers, to conserve that presence within our city.”

Renowned designer, Sarah Arnett, showcases colour and exoticism in fabrics, wallpaper and fashion items at The Little Picture Palace in Seven Dials. She promises cocktails in the garden and surprise weekend entertainment, too. RAPTURE at Brunswick’s beautiful Regency Townhouse aims to revolutionise exhibition economics with its profit-sharing model. Matthew Burrows of @artistsupportpledge fame will be giving a talk as part of a programme of RAPTURE events.

Known for its controversially colourful paintjob, Sam Hewitt’s House on Dyke Road is full of the acclaimed artist’s drone-inspired street scenes. Finally, architectural ceramicist Kay Aplin’s unusual tileadorned home (and hugely popular AOH venue) The Ceramic House Gallery in Fiveways hosts contemporary Irish ceramics and sound art, plus a collaboration between artists in Estonia, Ireland and the UK.

There is plenty of patriotic fun to be had at Beacon Hill Windmill in Rottingdean. More Tales From The Windmill brings together 3D illustrated lanterns, puppet theatre, animation, paintings, books, fortune-telling, live folk music, and a 3D Coronation kit to cut out and colour. There’s even a 50’s-style television live-stream of King Charles being crowned. Alternatively, you can see a Chinese brush painting demo at Delicious Delights near Fiveways, immerse yourself in a sound installation and see handmade recorders at Hanover’s The Yellow House, take Vintage Afternoon Tea at The Claremont in Hove or marvel at AI Assisted Portraits by Kaniskult at Kemptown’s Art Rascal.

Making their debut amongst the AOH family this year is Laura Waldusky in Kemptown, who creates painstakingly precise line drawings on paper, some made into 3D sculptures. There’s also Home James at 76 in Fiveways, showing printmaking, ceramics and crafts, with an open garden and Portslade’s The Way of Seeing which features experimental photos from the Sussex countryside.

Although its concomitant to how AOH is presented, the festival does offer an opportunity to views spaces where much of the art is developed and formed, which can often be as rewarding as viewing the works themselves. “The joy of visiting artists in their own homes and studios is that it breaks down the barriers of the more formal gallery structure,” suggests Stevens. “Being able to talk to the artist about their work, sharing ideas, such as how the work is made, what inspires and influences them, is a very different one for both artists and visitors. Plus, there is the added pleasure of seeing artists in their own environments and, yes, it is always nice to visit a lovely house full of interesting art - some even offer tea and homemade cake!”

Artists Open Houses 2023 runs every weekend from Sat 6 – Sun 28 May. For more details, and information on participants, visit: www.aoh.org.uk

BN1’s TOP PICKS FOR BRIGHTON FESTIVAL

It’s May which can only mean one thing - the dawn of our whole city coming together to showcase the artists, musicians, comedians, actors, dancers, poets and creatives amongst us. Brighton never fails to be colourful and full of surprising, interesting people or events, and Brighton Festival is how to gather that collective spirit. With so much on, we have done some gathering of our own to narrow down the options of what you should see. Here are our Brighton Festival 2023 top picks.

expresses his personal relationship between remembering details and trying to imagine yourself in spaces. This exhibition is free to explore and guaranteed to be rich in nuances.

Sat 6-Sat 27 May, Tues-Fri 12-5pm, Sat 12-4pm

Throughout Festival

GALATEA - THEATRE

It is no secret we at BN1 are excited about the world of Galatea coming to Brighton as we spoke to the director and performance artist Emma Frankland for our April edition. Galatea is a Marlborough Production theatre performance written by the Shakespeare contemporary, John Lyly. It is a timeless story of love, joy and acceptance reintroduced to a whole new generation of audiences as a resonant story for modern times. It features a vibrant and diverse cast of LGBTQIA+ and deaf performers, a creation that celebrates diversity, inclusion and the power of community-led creativity. Challenging the status quo when it comes to staging too, as the play is performed in an outdoor, community space - Adur Recreation Ground.

Preview - Fri 5 May, 8pm Sat 6-Sun 21 May (Wed-Sun), 8pm Sun 14 & Sat 20 May, 2pm

A FUTURE MEMORY - VISUAL ARTS

An art exhibition which we imagine to emotionally connect with all viewers, A Future Memory created by Mohammed Adel is inspired by existence and remembrance; family and culture. Based in South East London, Adel considers his British-Bengali identity through paintings. Represented is a comfort but also spaces of awkwardness and ambiguity. A Future Memory will be full of life and colour as Adel

CHILDREN’S PARADE

Ah, the gorgeous parade to kick off the festival season. Year after year the children’s parade never fails to impress the people of Brighton with its noise, vibrancy and cheerful communal pride. School children in their homemade costumes, with their interesting sculptural creations, march from Jubilee Street to Madeira Drive. This year’s theme is One World, encouraging kids to think about culture and the environment to answer questions about how we can learn and grow from each other. It is an important topic which will lead their dances and chants alongside Same Sky artists, teachers and volunteers. If you’re not awake at 10:30am on Sun 7 May, the Children’s Parade will make sure you are with its fabulous raucousness.

Sun 7 May, 10:30am

LITTLE MURMUR - DANCE WORKSHOP

A new dance theatre show by Aakash Odedra Company and The Spark Arts for Children, Little Murmur promises to be a sensory spectacle. We are expecting the extraordinary through displays of movement and confetti. Dance became a mode of expression for Odedra who grew up dyslexic and didn’t feel like he belonged until he found the missing ‘A’ in Aakash. It will be enthralling to see how these ideologies of challenges and overcoming are projected with the aid of design and technology. What’s more, on Sun 14 May at 10am, a 45-minute workshop will encourage children to explore their own identity through movement as inspired by Little Murmur. The workshop was created in partnership with the British Dyslexia Association and is just £5 to take part, with no dance experience needed. Performances will take place at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts

Sat 13 May, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Sun 14 May, 11am, 1pm & 3pm Workshop - Sun 14 May, 10am

VAN GOGH ALIVE - VISUAL ARTS

Possibly the most world renowned and enticing art exhibition to come to Brighton, Van Gogh Alive has everyone in the city buzzing, and we are no exception. The immersive experience, celebrating the life and legendary work of Vincent Van Gogh, will be held at the newly refurbished Brighton Dome Corn Exchange. There will even be a brand new Starry Night installation exclusive to Brighton Festival. The technology provides a kaleidoscope of colour, allowing visitors to become part of the recognisable and lesser known paintings. We are expecting the space to be interactive, educational, and entirely captivating. An event that has been in the diary for a long while, and should be in yours too!

Fri 12

May-Sun 6 Aug - Times Vary

WEEK TWO

SUROOR - MUSIC

The gorgeous creative director Nabihah Iqbal is taking the stage for this slot. SUROOR is a four-piece experimental group embracing the interconnectedness between music, art, politics and society. The multidisciplinary performance will surely keep us on our toes; we are unsure whether to lose ourselves in movement or sip red wine and listen hard. Either way, SUROOR will make us feel. With support from Qazi & Qazi who combine intricate harmonies with orchestral-scale arrangements. This is what music is all about - the confusion, delight and overall euphoria of sound. Taking place at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts.

Mon 15 May, 7:30pm

KIZLAR - DANCE

Another world premiere, the themes of Kizlar sound dreamy and mesmerising as the aesthetically driven work tells the story of femininity and masculinity, strength and vulnerability. The all female company combines Turkish folk dance with unique movement from Brightonbased choreographer Ceyda Tanc who has Turkish heritage herself. It challenges gender and celebrates culture which sounds both eloquent and thought-provoking. Performed at the stunning Theatre Royal Brighton.

Tue 16 May, 7:30pm

WEEK THREE

LIVE - COMEDY

There is so much comedy at Brighton Festival, which is an accolade to how this art form is being accredited, but to get a dose of laughter from an eclectic mix of personalities, watch Live at Brighton Festival at Brighton Dome. A night with an impressive line-up of comedy’s biggest names: Nish Kumar, Chloe Petts, Thanyia Moore and others, means you get to see plenty of stand up under one roof. With regards to the jokes, who really knows what to expect? But with it being the biggest comedy night in Brighton, entertainment is guaranteed.

Fri 19 May, 7:30om

MOBY DICK - FAMILY THEATRE

When it comes to choosing something for the family to see, we are spoilt for choice between visual masterpieces and circus spectaculars, but maybe this Plexus Polaire performance will be a wise pick. Brought to the UK for the first time by the Norwegian/French company, it has already received immaculate acclaim. The adaptation of the classic tale of a friendly whale will provide warmth for parents and wonder for the children. The unique artistry brings seven actors, fifty puppets, video projections, orchestra and of course, a whale to Theatre Royal Brighton.

Thu 25 & Fri 26 May, 7:30pm Sat 27 May, 2pm & 7:30pm

MUNROE BERGDORF - BOOKS AND SPOKEN WORD

Literature is becoming a more inclusive world on a daily basis, with people from all walks of life being able to tell and publish their stories on platforms that have not always been available. By simply reading a plethora of perspectives, we are becoming a more empathetic society. It is important, cool, dare I say trendy to tell stories and speak about books! Transitional is labelled heartfelt and intimate as readers enter the life and questions of Munroe who shares how to heal and how to make society stronger and prouder. She is an activist, model, writer and broadcaster, plus won an honorary doctorate for campaigning for transgender rights by the University of Brighton. She has recently spoken about her book on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show and Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett, so the fact that we have Munroe with us is a real honour. While we are yet to read Transitional, we can’t wait to hear Munroe speak at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and to feel inspired.

Sat 27 May, 7:30pm

OUR ROOTS - CLUB NIGHT

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be a festival without dancing the day away, long into the far away night. Our Roots is Brighton Dome’s first ever club night hosted by Brighton’s own legendary queer club nights UOKHUN? Polyglamorous and Gal Pals. We want colour. We want dance music. We want chaos. We are sure Our Roots will provide all of that and more. The event is all about inclusivity and celebration featuring DJ sets from BISHI and Nabihah Iqbal which will make Brighton History. You don’t want to miss out on that. See you on the dancefloor.

Sat 27 May, 10pm-3am

To discover what else is on at Brighton Festival, and to purchase tickets to any of the events, go to BRIGHTONFESTIVAL.ORG