From its exhibitors to its curators, the concept of openness is central to this year’s Brighton Photo Fringe event.

The Open ’11 has been selected by a group of curators who were similarly recruited through an open access process, as part of a way of opening the whole fringe out.

“It’s the first time I’ve been involved in curating for this type of exhibition,” confesses Lawrence Daley, one of the team of nine exhibition curators.

“I’m a recent graduate in photography, much more used to being a practitioner than working on the curatorial side of things.

“We wanted work that we found interesting and stimulating, work that presents photography in a way that people might not be used to seeing.”

Among the artists whose work is on display are Alexander Nicolas Gehring, Steffi Klenz, Jessica Mallock, Nadege Meriau, Pedro Ramos, Preston Is My Paris, Tom Saunderson, Daniel Stier and Casey Wilson.

The exhibition is being accompanied by a series of related events, ranging from exciting interactive projects to discussions with the curators and their mentor Charlotte Cotton, creative director of the Media Space and formerly head of programming at the Photographers’ Gallery, London.

Among the projects is a living Brighton archive, organised by artist Preston Is My Paris, using photographs and objects brought into the gallery by visitors to the open exhibition.

“Artists will be scanning and photographing objects to produce four magazines based on content brought to the show,” says Daley.

“It will be a piece of work with an interesting perspective on Brighton.”

Other events include the Itchy Scratchy Support Session, which can be booked in advance, where therapist Elizabeth Noble and artist Jason Evans will be offering a confidential support session for artists to talk about their creative processes. Those taking part will be encouraged to bring an itchy scratchy image with them – one which, according to Cotton, “interests and troubles you because there is something you don’t fully understand about it, as if you unconsciously did something”.

And there is also a Graduate Crit session designed to help recent arts graduates make their first moves into the wider world, which again must be booked up before Monday, November 21.

“We have tried to make events that would be appropriate for the city of Brighton,” says Daley.

“We want to reach out to people and get them involved in making an exhibition themselves.”

For more information visit www.photofringe.org

* Open Wed to Sat 11am to 5pm, late night opening Thurs to 9pm, free. Call 01273 670723.

Preston Is My Paris runs every Fri and Sat, from 11am to 5pm

Charlotte Cotton talk is on Saturday, November 19, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm

Itchy Scratchy Support Session on Sunday, November 20, from 2pm to 4pm

Curators’ Salon is open on Sunday, November 20, and Sunday, November 27, from 4pm to 6pm

Graduate Crit is on Thursday, December 8, from 7pm to 9pm.