Phoenix Now

We are delighted to welcome over 16,000 visitors a year to our building in the heart of Brighton. As a centre of artistic activity we are a place to make, learn and talk about contemporary art, embedded in our local community and with an international outlook. 

Professional artists and the public come together in a setting that encourages creativity, collaboration and exchange.  Alongside our exhibition programme, we put on a range of regular community events, talks and presentations from artists and arts organisations, family fun days, short courses, one-day events and drop-in workshops. Artistic production, in our studios and through our public programme, is the engine of Phoenix. Every year in May, our studio artists open their doors to the public with opportunities to buy work and experience the working life of an artist. 

Our building has a fascinating history. Built in 1968 for offices,  it was taken over by different groups of artists when it became vacant in the 90s. In 1995 it was bought by the newly formed charity – Phoenix Arts Association Limited and led by the artists.

Over the past 3 decades, as we have grown, we have expanded our artistic and community programmes and our reach and impact more widely.  Our building, however is starting to decline and hold us back. The condition and facilities within it now really lag behind our creative and environmental ambitions – and do not meet modern access needs or energy requirements. To bring this aspect of Phoenix up to date and embrace the opportunities within our new post-pandemic world, we need to make significant changes to our physical infrastructure soon, to be able to respond to both growing challenges and new opportunities. Our building is a hub for creativity that hosts and catalyses a huge range of artistic output. 

Phoenix Future

We now need to improve and future proof it. Our Towards a Sustainable Future project will see our building become environmentally sustainable, accessible and able to accommodate new developments in the visual arts by 2030. 

By 2035, we envision:

• A landmark building that is itself a work of art, exemplifying sustainable design and accessible creativity
• A thriving ecosystem where diverse artists at all career stages can flourish
• A catalyst for creative enterprise that shapes the city’s cultural and economic future
• An inclusive space where art, learning, and community converge to spark innovation
• A model for environmental responsibility in the arts sector
• A creative beacon that connects local communities to global conversations 

A building that is for purpose supports our mission to increase the diversity of experience and arts practice throughout our work, for example, through the provision of an external lift which ensures better/full access to all floors. Our eco retrofit will enable us to better manage our energy usage costs and develop a new income stream to support our public programmes. We recognise the potential for Phoenix to impact low carbon targets in the city positively and for this to demonstrate best practice in our sector. We believe in being proactive with our ambitions and collaborative in our approach. Our local communities will be involved in the look, feel and identity of the new design- through a programme of workshops which explore the rationale for decisions and outcomes. 

SUPPORT US

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.