“Group was inherent within the delivery of the pageant,” says Andrew Comben, chief govt of Brighton Competition. “If you wish to rejoice the place, then it is advisable to be working alongside the communities that inhabit it. The entire essence of constructing artwork is constructing relationships with individuals.”
This yr’s visitor director is the acclaimed youngsters’s writer, screenwriter and author of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, Frank Cottrell-Boyce. His intention to infuse this yr’s occasion with hope, marvel, magic and enjoyable can be rooted within the pageant’s community-focused ethos. “Frank is optimism on a stick,” laughs Comben. “He’s simply essentially the most incredible, beneficiant thoughts and great communicator. We felt it was so wanted to have that hopeful body across the pageant this yr.”
Whereas many festivals parachute in huge names who come and go, the Brighton Competition workforce has made it a core mission to combine and embed the group, and its native expertise, into the programme itself. “We rejoice the chance to convey worldwide artists to the town and to be taught from that cross-cultural alternate,” says Comben. “However in the identical manner, we additionally champion work that’s made regionally, typically by group contributors.”
The entire essence of constructing artwork is constructing relationships with individuals
Listed here are 5 methods by which the group actually does lie at the very coronary heart of this yr’s Brighton Competition.
Brighton Competition takes place from 4-26 Might. To search out out extra, go to brightonfestival.org
Most important picture: Jamie MacMillan