Towards a Sustainable Future

30 Years of Impact: A Future of Ambition

For over 30 years, Phoenix Art Space has provided affordable studios, exhibitions and participatory programmes in the heart of Brighton, welcoming nearly 20,000 visitors annually and supporting 120 studio artists.

Artistic production and public participation are the engine of Phoenix. Artists and audiences come together here to make, learn and experience contemporary art through exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, family days and open studios. Our building is not just a venue, it is the infrastructure that enables this creative ecosystem to thrive.

However, the building that has sustained three decades of artistic activity is now constraining our future. Seasonal overheating and winter cold reduce studio occupancy by around 20% during peak temperature periods. Access barriers prevent full participation for disabled artists and visitors. Rising energy costs, currently £60,000 annually, divert resources away from artistic programming.

30 Years of Impact: A Future of Ambition is the next step in our long-term programme, Towards a Sustainable Future. Through a carefully planned retrofit, we will transform our building into an environmentally sustainable, accessible and resilient cultural space.

Progressing the project to RIBA Stage 3 (Developed Design) will enable a planning-ready scheme that:

• Reduces regulated carbon emissions by approximately 50%

• Significantly lowers energy expenditure, releasing up to £30,000 annually for reinvestment in exhibitions and workshops

• Improves accessibility, including step-free access across all floors

• Creates thermally stable spaces that support year-round artistic production

This is not a cosmetic upgrade. It is an investment in the future of inclusive cultural participation in Brighton.

By 2035, we aim to be:

• A landmark artist-led building demonstrating sustainable retrofit in action

• A thriving ecosystem for artists at all career stages

• An inclusive cultural hub where creativity, learning and community converge

• A model for environmental responsibility in the arts sector

Local artists, disabled practitioners and community partners are shaping the design through structured co-design workshops and an access audit led by Rocket Artists, ensuring the building reflects the needs of those who use it.

We believe cultural infrastructure matters. With the right investment now, Phoenix Art Space can secure another 30 years of creative opportunity, public engagement and climate-conscious cultural leadership.

Please DONATE AND be part of our future

At a time when the amount of national artists’ studios and creative incubation spaces is reducing due to ongoing financial viability and socio-economic change, we are a vital part of today’s arts infrastructure, providing entry points, development space and time, and the chance for new and sometimes marginalised talent to flourish.  We are now positioned to present best practice models in studio provision, all the time fostering ambition and artistic excellence.  

As a small, independent charity, we rely on your kind generosity to help fund our projects and continue to grow sustainably.

Towards a Sustainable Future is our most ambitious project to date and your support will help us to achieve exciting plans to benefit our local community.

It would make a huge difference if you would consider supporting us by making a donation – thank you.