Because art is a powerful catalyst
Inspiring innovation in all areas of society
When the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts opens in 2014, it will be a beacon of creativity and the embodiment of the Sussex interdisciplinary spirit.
A £7.2 million refurbishment is transforming the former Grade II Gardner Arts Centre into a creative hub for the University and the wider region, bringing together researchers and students from all disciplines – drama, music and creative writing, media, cultural studies, art history, business studies, philosophy and cognitive science, design and engineering – to collaborate in creative work.
The new centre will be named in honour of our former Chancellor, Lord Richard Attenborough, and as a memorial to his daughter and Sussex alumna, Jane Attenborough, a leading arts professional, who tragically died in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004.
Throughout Lord Attenborough’s long association with Sussex, he has been particularly interested in the welfare of the Gardner building. In its renaming, he set out his vision for its future: 'The Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts will provide an arena in which professional artists, the academic community and audiences can cross-fertilise, offering up the thrilling possibility of a uniquely rich and original range of events of the highest quality.
I have no doubt that the centre will contribute hugely to the University’s future success and make a significant contribution to performing arts education and practice for generations to come.'
Enabling Sussex creativity to flourish
The Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts will pioneer new approaches to knowledge transfer between Education and the arts.
New programmes in Theatre and Performance, Creative Media Practice and Sonic Media are being developed, along with initiatives with Informatics and Engineering. Further, by creating post-doctoral posts and PhD scholarships, we hope to enrich the Centre’s activity and swiftly create a critical mass of interdisciplinary work which will inspire future projects and scholars.
We are also working with organisations including the Glyndebourne Festival and Brighton Festival, and engaging with local schools and community groups to encourage learning through creative and experimental activity: housing residencies for artists; engaging with festivals; hosting conferences, workshops and exhibitions; staging live music and performances, and film and media events.
Beyond Academia, the arts has a unique ability to develop communication skills and moral and social awareness. The Attenborough Centre will inspire creativity and enable self-expression amongst a diverse range of groups and individuals unfamiliar with Higher Education. The Centre will open its doors and facilities to the wider community because we believe that education and engagement through the arts impacts on how we behave and on what kind of society we create for the future.
Read more about the plans for the Attenborough Centre on their webpages.
Attenborough Centre model images
Join the celebrity line up in a portrait to celebrate Lord Attenborough’s 90th birthday
Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Robert Downey Jr. and the broadcaster Channel 4 are among the many people and organisations who have already pledged their support for the new Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts through a specially commissioned oil portrait of Lord Attenborough.
The work is being created by Brighton artist Mike Edwards, a pioneer of typographical art who has created similar-style portraits of Burmese Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and iconic pop artists Blondie and David Bowie. The paintings are composed of clearly readable text that, when viewed from a distance, merges to create an image with a photographic-like quality.
Around 200 names are required to complete the portrait, which is due to be presented to the celebrated actor and director - and former Chancellor of the University - on his 90th birthday in September 2013. The University is now giving you the opportunity to make a donation in order to be included in the work, which will go on display in the Attenborough Centre.
If you would like to learn more about this project or make a donation to the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, please contact the Development and Alumni Office, T 01273 678258 or E alumni@sussex.ac.uk