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July/August 2023

‘Collective Conversations’ was a collective residency for a group of socially engaged artists, focussing on ‘sustainability’ and ‘community conversations’, post the pandemic lockdowns.

‘Social Circles’ is an artist-led Brighton-based collective of socially engaged artists, (formerly known as Brighton Social Engaged Artists Peer Group), committed to  supporting socially engaged practice, individual artists and their processes.

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Intervention during the ‘Collective Conversations’ Residency 

During the residency a group of artists created a public intervention on the windows of the Main Gallery of Phoenix Art Space, highlighting the challenging circumstances for Brighton Visual Artists post-pandemic. Following this action, Brighton & Hove Council initiated a survey into the state of the visual arts in the City.

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July 2023 |    ‘Art = ‘   Collaboration with Arabel Lebrusan + Neil Pavey Artists

We printed this call to share it among artists, art lovers and the community at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton. We also created banners for the front windows of the building.

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For us, Art is the life and soul of the City.

Brighton visual arts are under threat and our ecosystems are struggling. Over the last year, we have lost 3 major visual art venues – Fabrica and Lighthouse have lost NPO funding and their public programmes. Brighton CCA has been closed by University of Brighton.

We see creativity and making art as a fundamental right for all, that needs protecting.

As artists, many of us are freelance workers, experiencing acute stresses from the cost of living crisis, creating real pressure on already precarious livelihoods. As artists, many of us are assessing if and how, we can continue to afford to continue our practices. Our needs are simple. We need SPACE to make, PEOPLE to make with and VENUES to show our work. We are losing the venues who can support us as artists, whom we can partner with financially and spaces in which we can exhibit to the public. Currently Phoenix is the last public gallery remaining.

We are not dead yet, but we need your support to show we matter. Join us in this conversation!

‘How is Art important to you?’ 

Give us a word or a new value equation. Give back/tag/send us on socials @social__circles
or email it to: social.circles000@gmail.com

art  =   …………..    +   …………..

Your contribution will be added to our Phoenix window and/or to our Instagram account, @social__circles

Arabel Lebrusan, visual artist/ Helen Dewhurst, visual artist/ Neil Pavey, visual artist
From Social Circles Collective. Brighton’s Socially Engaged Artist Collective.

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Credits:
Social Circles – Brighton Socially Engaged Artist Peer Group @social__circles
Phoenix Art Space, Brighton