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Sussex Festival of Ideas returns this spring with an exciting and thought‑provoking programme led by students and academics from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities. The Festival is a vibrant annual showcase designed to bring together students, staff and the wider community for a celebration of creativity, also linking into the wider Brighton Festival programme in May.

Now in its fifth year, the Festival of Ideas continues its mission to connect, create and inspire. This year’s programme features a diverse mix of installations, exhibitions, workshops and discussions, curated collaboratively by Sussex students and academics.

What you can look forward to in the student-led programme

Postcards from Brighton (17-19 March, 11am-4pm)

A digital photography exhibition created by Media Production student Isha Mudassar, Postcards from Brighton captures the city beyond its summer postcard reputation, exploring themes of belonging, creativity and everyday student life through winter and early spring. The exhibit uses digital projection to show how Brighton becomes a home for students year‑round.

Weaving the Neurodivergent Brain‑Body Together (18 March, 12:45pm-2:30pm)

Following an artistic residency at Fabrica, this event by artist Beth Sutton (she/they) showcases a large‑scale installation exploring neurodivergence and brain‑body relationships. Audiences are invited into a reflective, immersive space that expands on Sutton’s research into neurodevelopmental experiences.

Closing the Gap, Opening the Stage (18 March, 5:45pm-8:30pm)

This event will convene a cross-generational panel of alumni, academics, and Student Union leaders to navigate the complexities of racial justice and belonging to Sussex within the larger landscape of Brighton. Following this, the stage will transform into a ”living canvas” of diverse talent featuring beatboxing, rap, and bilingual spoken words.

Different Strokes: Celebrating Neurodiversity Through Creativity (19 March, 9:30am-4pm)

This one‑day creative event champions neuro‑affirmative ways of working, researching and collaborating, offering workshops in zine‑making, lino printing, collective documentation and collage. It invites participants to reflect on how neurodivergence shapes creative expression and academic practice.

Glimpses: The Bed as Meeting Place (20 March, 2pm-5pm)

This intimate, collaborative event transforms a campus venue into a “nest,” encouraging attendees to consider the bed as a site of care, collective world‑building and isolation. Participants are welcomed into shared beds to explore personal “bed stories” and the relationship between rest, care and community.

Why you should get involved

The Festival of Ideas is created with and for students. It is your opportunity to:

• Support fellow students who have designed and curated events.
• Engage with themes that matter: inclusion, accessibility, identity, neurodiversity and belonging.
• Try something new, take part in hands‑on workshops, immersive environments and community conversations.

Connect with the wider Sussex and Brighton creative community, including events later in the spring as part of the Brighton Festival, where Sussex research and creative work are showcased publicly.

Visit the full Festival of Ideas programme and book your place at an event.

Events are free but spaces may be limited so book early if something catches your eye.