KEY players in some of the biggest dates on Brighton and Hove's cultural calendar are uniting to create one of the biggest arts events the city has ever seen.
The Big Culture Project (TBCP) is planning to offer 28 days of music, film, dance, performing arts and more at Black Rock, starting on August 20.
Organisers say the aim of the never-before seen collaboration is to "bring culture back to the city" after the coronavirus crisis forced venues to close and performances to be scrapped at short notice in March.
It will also "bring a much-needed boost to industries fighting their way out of the current crisis, and an even bigger boost to the arts-loving people of this city".
The festival will achieve this by putting on a show with "big-named musicians, comics and performers" while employing 250 professionals from some of the sectors which have been devastated during the pandemic.
A spokeswoman said: "70 per cent of the net ticket revenue will go directly to the relevant promoters, artists and venues hosting each show.
"The remaining 30 per cent will support the project with profits being distributed between the relevant local venues, organisations and charities."
John Castrillon of TBCP said: "This is an unprecedented collaboration for an unprecedented time.
"We’ve got the people behind Brighton Festival, the delivery team behind The Great Escape, Fabrica, Brighton Dome, C3, Whisky Bravo and Brighton Fringe using their collective experience, equipment and little black books to ensure The Big Culture Project is the glittering success our region deserves.
"In an impossibly challenging year for the arts and event industries, we’re determined to do something positive and creative, championing the charities, venues and independent businesses that put smiles on our faces year after year.
"We’re extremely conscious of the challenges around staging an event in the current climate and have been collaborating with health and safety experts as well as the city’s authorities from day one."
The festival is the result of efforts from 90 of Brighton's most prominent event organisers, but there have been challenges in creating an event of this size while maintaining government guidelines surrounding social distancing.
However, a spokeswoman reassured those considering visiting that precautions had been taken to make sure these were maintained, with the festival "using a purpose-built, outdoor event space, following all the latest guidelines on social distancing".
This will be able to host 600 socially distanced music-lovers.
The huge scheme has already been given the go-ahead by Brighton and Hove City Council, and now a Crowdfunder has been launched to finance the venture.
Organisers say £175,000 is needed in order for the festival to go ahead.
Mr Castrillon said: "If you’re able, please support our crowdfunder, support the arts, support your city and make The Big Culture Project a reality.
CLICK HERE>>>To find out how to donate to The Big Culture Project
"If everyone in Brighton contributed just £1, we’d smash our target and give the city something to really look forward to."
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