Millions in grants for Brighton and Hove arts organisations

Arts Council is to invest nearly £32 million into arts and culture in East Sussex from 2018 to 2022, and 15 of the organisations set to benefit are in Brighton and Hove.

The Royal Pavilion and Museums - which is in the process of moving out of the council's hands and into a Trust - will be handed nearly £2.8 million over four years.

The cash will be used to 'bring collections from across the city closer to communities, through digital and schools activities to exhibitions, events and outreach'.

Funds will go towards shining a spotlight on the lesser known museums, such as the Booth Museum, which is set to feature a new ‘evolution gallery’, with a specially-commissioned replica of an ‘Iguanodon Mantellisaurus’ (a type of dinosaur) and the story of its local discoverer Gideon Mantell. From birds to butterflies, flora to fossils, the Booth’s designated collection will evolve into an interactive science centre, to share the story of what it is to be human in the natural world.

Hove Museum will see collaboration with local film organisations such as the Brighton Youth Film Festival, Cine-City and Film Archive South East, and at Preston Manor, the emphasis will be on providing greater access to parts of this historic building, giving visitors a better understanding of the house, collections and those who lived and worked there.

On the Royal Pavilion Estate a series of exhibitions and displays will mark key milestones over the next four years such as the 200th anniversary of the Royal Pavilion’s creator, George IV’s, ascension to the throne, and the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings.

Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the city’s tourism, development and culture committee, said: “With intense competition for all aspects of public funding, this is fantastic news for the city’s culture. It means Royal Pavilion and Museums can continue their work involving people of all ages in our unique and nationally important collections.

“This is an exciting time for our museums, with more opportunities for residents to get involved. It is really important for us to make the collections accessible to everyone and for all our residents to experience the rich cultural heritage of Brighton and Hove.”

Other Brighton organisations to win funding include: Disability Arts Online, which provides support for disabled artists - providing a platform for informed debate, sharing best practice, supporting creativity and commissioning new work; Culture24, which gives nationwide support for digital skills development in cultural organisations; and Jerwood Gallery, with its Collection of Modern and Contemporary British Art.

The organisations in Brighton and Hove that have been awarded win funding are:

Blast Theory, Portslade - £536,628

Brighton and Hove City Council (Royal Pavilion and Museums) - £2,794,028

Brighton Dome & Festival Limited - £4,599,684

Carousel Project - £789,952

Culture24 - £1,184,000

Disability Arts Online - £400,000

Dreamthinkspeak - £603,708

Fabrica - £710,300

Hofesh Shechter Company - £1,533,228

Home Live Art - £301,740

Lighthouse Arts and Training Ltd - £459,968

New Writing South - £496,768

Photoworks - £1,073,260

South East Dance Ltd - £2,280,676

South East Museum Development Programme - £2,046,448

Vincent Dance Theatre - £999,996

Hedley Swain, area director for the South East at Arts Council England, said:"This is an exceptionally strong portfolio of organisations delivering great arts and cultural experiences to audiences throughout the East and South East of England.

"Our investment will support inventive, pioneering arts organisations, a range of museums and arts activity in libraries. It will reach into more places than ever before, providing more people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in the arts – inspiring them as artists, as audiences, or as a mix of both.

“We are delighted to be making an increased investment in East Sussex with some exciting new organisations joining the portfolio. All of our National Portfolio organisations will play an essential role in reaching more people, developing local, national and international talent, and making where they’re based great places to live, work and visit.”