For the second consecutive year, the University of Sussex has been chosen as the official Higher Education Partner for Brighton Festival 2024.

Combined with the University’s education partnership with the Turner prize 2023, this announcement extends the university's commitment to the arts through its longstanding involvement with Brighton Festival. Over the years it has played a significant part in bringing academic expertise to the forefront of the arts through curated programming, as well as facilitating community arts, learning and engagement.

Brighton Festival is the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England. Taking place 4-26 May, the Festival welcomes an extensive programme from national and international artists across music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events to venues and locations across Brighton, Hove and Sussex.

This year's Festival programme will feature a notable collaboration with the University of Sussex Festival of Ideas – a dynamic and engaging programme of talks, events and activities, from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, now in its third year. This series of events, integrated into the main Brighton Festival programme, aims to harness the transformative power of the arts and humanities to inspire novel perspectives on the past, present, and future.

Showcasing an immersive ecoacoustic listening experience featuring meditation expert and star of TV’s Escape to the Country, Alastair Appleton, a Turner Prize winning former University of Sussex student, live magic and a conversation about the symbolism of witches, this year’s events promise to deliver an eclectic and engaging programme of thought-provoking content. 

Comprising six events held at various venues across the city, including the University’s arts centre, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA).

Collectively twelve events will take place on campus, with ACCA co-presenting nine events in partnership with Brighton Festival.

Highlighted University of Sussex Festival of Ideas 2024 events include:

1. Bird Bath: An immersive experience created by ecoacoustician Dr. Alice Eldridge and meditator Alistair Appleton, transforming buildings into restorative spaces with the soothing sound of local birdsong.
2. Remember when the Turner Prize Came to Sussex: Reflecting on the reasons why one of the UK’s most prestigious arts made its way to Sussex and the part the University of Sussex played in its role as education partner in bringing arts to the wider community. 
3. The Radical, Revolutionary Witch: Dr. Laura Kounine discusses the book "Witchful Thinking" with its author Zoë Howe, exploring the contemporary symbolism of witches in feminism and activism 
4. Now That’s What I Call Magic: Turner Prize-winning artist and University of Sussex alum Jeremy Deller engages in a conversation with Professor Lucy Robinson, exploring collaboration, British history, protest, and pop culture. 
5. Radical Remembering: Subira Joy, recipient of a Stuart Hall Foundation Fellowship, explores histories of resistance through creativity and performance.
6. Close-up: Magician Vincent Gambini invites the public to experience a 10-minute performance inside a café, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. 

In addition to the Festival of Ideas, the University of Sussex is once again supporting Our Place, a celebration of creativity where Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival work in partnership with local communities to select, programme and produce free art projects, performances, and events in their communities. This spring, three Artist in Residence projects - in Hangleton and Knoll, East Brighton, and Moulsecoomb and Bevendean - will culminate in artworks to be showcased during this year’s and in future Brighton Festivals, covering themes of cultural diversity, identity and community. 

Prof Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global & Civic Engagement), said: 

“We are really pleased to be supporting Brighton Festival as its official Higher Education Partner once again.  

“Expanding access to the arts is a shared priority, and we’re delighted to be able to work in partnership to create opportunities for people in our communities – both on and off campus – to engage with the Festival.  

“This will include events across Brighton and at our wonderful on-campus arts centre, the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. It also includes the Festival of Ideas, a programme of talks, events, and activities led by staff and students from the University of Sussex.”

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Festival, said: 

“We are delighted our relationship with University of Sussex as our Higher Education Partner continues to grow, with our two organisations collaborating on a rich range of projects benefitting staff, students, alumni, and audiences. 

“The University's Festival of Ideas, as part of this year’s programme, features a wonderful line-up of expert academics and alumni in events ranging from sound installation to discussion to magical encounters is a perfect match for the eclectic spirit of Brighton Festival and the expertise and innovation of the University of Sussex”. 

Brighton Festival takes place from 4-26 May 2024.