Brighton & Hove Arts Council is 50 this year!
Brighton & Hove Arts Council (BHAC) is a charity run entirely by volunteers. We were established in 1974 to promote many of the wonderful not-for-profit creative arts communities of Brighton & Hove and in the neighbouring towns and villages of East and West Sussex.
BHAC has close to one hundred member groups. Between us we support and publicise a wide range of activities and events, including visual arts and crafts, theatre, music, dance, and poetry.
Donate to BHAC
As a charity we rely upon financial donations from funding bodies and the general public. We are grateful for any contribution no matter how small!
The History of BHAC
In 1974 BBC Radio Brighton broadcast a programme calling for a centre of activity for the many arts related groups in Brighton & Hove. A number of groups held a meeting, electing Robert Gunnell, manager of BBC Radio Brighton, as Chair. Brighton & Hove Arts Council was born!
Initially BHAC owned and operated from the Old Market in Hove, which was a fabulous hub for the arts community. We had to sell the building in the 1980s due to lack of funds, although happily it continues as an arts venue to this day.
BHAC continued without a home, becoming the umbrella organisation it is today. We have been through many changes throughout the years. The internet has proved especially important to us, not least during the pandemic during which many arts events moved online. Our website, filled with up-to-date listings on the online Arts Diary, and information about BHAC and member group activities, is excellent. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram.
Special BHAC Events
Our events calendar begins with our Art Show in April, showcasing the talents of our Visual Arts member groups. In November we give special recognition to an individual with our Outstanding Contribution to the Arts Award. Finally in December we celebrate the achievements of our Theatrical friends at our Drama Awards night. Every two years we hold our extremely popular Poetry Competition, and November Poetry Festival. Soon we will be adding a summer Music Event to our annual programme – exciting!
The Arts Diary
Our proudest achievement is the continuing production of our printed Arts Diary four times each year. This bright, attractive, free booklet displays event listings for our member groups, and copies are distributed throughout the area.
A version of this article first appeared in the June editions of the Brighton and Hove Magazines publications The Hovarian and the Brightonian.