We were delighted to hold the presentation in the Dance Space – new home to our member group, South East Dance. We are very grateful to them for hosting this event at their beautiful new premises, and we were delighted to welcome so many who joined us there.
As you will have seen from the invitation, SE Dance also arranged for us to see a performance by two talented young dancers – Chess Dillon Reams and Martha Canning, and this followed the awards presentation.
This year we received nine very worthy nominations for this award which shows just how hard people have worked to keep not-for-profit arts and culture in our city alive, often working in their own time and behind the scenes. Making the final selection is never an easy task. This year, as sometimes in the past, we received nominations for individuals who have been nominated in previous years. This is a clear indication of how these people have worked tirelessly year after year and that their efforts are greatly appreciated by the groups they serve.
This year’s nominations were (in alphabetical order):
MARGARET BETTS, Treasurer of the Society of Sussex Painters
SALLY DIVER – Acting President of Southwick Players
PAUL GREGORY, Artistic Director, Lunchtime Concerts at the Chapel Royal.
PATRICK HARREX – New Music Brighton
DAN LIPPMAN – Programme Organiser, Brighton & Hove French Circle
TANUSHKA MARAH – Artistic Director, Windmill Young Actors
JAMES MORGAN – Music Director, Brighton Festival Chorus
Dr. ROY WALES – founding Director, member and former Chair of Rottingdean Arts
LIZ WHITEHEAD – Director of Fabrica
And the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts Award 2022 was given to:
PAUL GREGORY, Artistic Director, Lunchtime Concerts at the Chapel Royal.
Paul has been involved in making high quality music accessible to all in Brighton & Hove for the past 32 years. Up to 50 weekly concerts are held each year now to capacity audiences and covering a wide range of musical genres. He is a well know guitarist and founder of the Brighton Guitar Orchestra and is also a founder member of New Music Brighton, which has been active for more than 25 years.
With thanks to our Chair, Jane Osler, who hosted the evening on our behalf. And, of course, our thanks to all those in and around Brighton & Hove who donate so much of their time to the not-for-profit arts which give so much to our lives and communities.