insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 03 - May 2015 | Page 16

arts+entertainment

HOUSE Festival
The original idea for HOUSE festival was hatched in 2008 by long-time
Artist Open Houses directors Judy Stevens and her partner, Chris Lord.
The intention was to provide an annual opportunity for new work from
internationally known artists to be commissioned and shown in the city
during the May festivals’ period.

© Joseph Popper

© Nathan Coley 2014, photo by Keith Hunter

They were well aware of the city’s lack of
dedicated art spaces and consequently of
opportunities for its residents to see new
work by major artists; the idea for HOUSE
came about to bridge this gap. Working in
partnership with Brighton Festival and other city
arts organisations, it would provide a unique
annual visual arts showcase. By using domestic
locations and other small non-art spaces
they wanted to find ways to provide dynamic
commissioning and exhibiting opportunities for
both established and new, young, emerging
artists.
Whereas the much-lo ٕ