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Day: November 15, 2018

Christmas comes to Brighton today ACTUALLY!

Posted on by Besi

This year’s big free switch-on of the annual Christmas lights takes place today, November 15 from 4:30pm in East Street – and as always, it promises to be a fabulous, fun festive event for all the family to enjoy.

THE event, organised by Brilliant Brighton – an organisation formed of 517 businesses that put on the switch-on event and collectively pay the £75,000 per year fee to ensure the city is lit up at Christmas – is in association with Capital Brighton and Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and is sponsored by Legal & General.

Once again, the switch-on will showcase some of the best talent in Brighton, with toe-tapping tunes from vintage-inspired swing group, Hit the Silk, rousing a cappella Christmas carols by Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and chart hits with a fresh twist from renowned Brighton buskers Ren and Sam Tompkins.

17-year-old singer-songwriter Jack Rose (who has just finished supporting Faith Evans on her UK tour and is also the host of Amazon TV series Ghost Hunting With Jack Rose), will also be taking to the stage to perform his new single Birthday Cake.

“We’re really excited for 2018’s Christmas lights switch- on event,” Gavin Stewart CEO of Brilliant Brighton, says. “It’s a lovely feel-good event and we hope that lots of people come down and join in with the festive fun!”

Inspiring Hove 15-year-old fundraiser Jake Heal (who despite having the rare genetic Prader-Willi Syndrome which causes a wide range of physical symptoms, learning difficulties and behavioural problems, has raised over £4,000 for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity by taking part in their i360 iDrop Abseil) alongside Rockinghorse trustee and CBeebies presenter Sid Sloane and Father Christmas, will have the all-important task of counting down and flicking the switch to unveil Brighton’s festive lights.

To further add to the festivities, there will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes from Brilliant Brighton businesses, with all donations going directly to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

Terrina Barnes, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Rockinghorse, says: “We are delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary charity of the Brighton Christmas lights switch-on this year.” 

“It’s always such a fantastic event and we look forward to raising funds for the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital through the raffle on the night.”

This year’s Christmas lights, which will light up the city centre until early January, are sponsored by Legal & General. The large local employer is also proud to support Brilliant Brighton’s late night shopping event on Thursday 13th December, which will see 500+ city centre shops, restaurants and cafes stay open ‘till 8pm – with plenty of entertainment, in-store events and offers to make picking up those last few presents a truly enjoyable experience.

For more details about this year’s Christmas lights switch-on, click here:

Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses Christmas Festival 2018

Posted on by Besi

Brighton and Hove’s Artists Open Houses Festival, the biggest of its kind in the UK, announces dates for its 2018 Christmas Festival.

THE festival kicks off on Saturday, November 24th and will run over the following three weekends, ending December 9.

During this time, hundreds of artists and makers across the city will open their houses and studio spaces to the public, offering the rare opportunity to buy direct from the artists in their own homes.

The Christmas Artists Open Houses festival provides an opportunity to shop away from the High Street and buy unique Christmas gifts.  You will find a hugely diverse selection of arts, crafts, jewellery, gifts for the home, Christmas cards, ceramics and presents for children – plus much more on show.  Many of the houses also offer mince pies and mulled wine.

Along with a fantastic selection of gifts to suit all tastes, some Open Houses are also hosting child-friendly events and craft activities, making it the perfect Christmas destination for all the family.

The festival will take place in Brighton, Hove, the South Downs village of Ditchling and beyond.

The Artists Open Houses Xmas Festival 2018 will run over:

November 24 & 25
December 1 & 2
December 8 & 9

Some highlights include:

♦     Relish Arts Studio
A new studio for 2018, Relish Arts Studio presents the work of four female family members. Hand cut vinyl stencil screen prints by Clo Barrett, elegant ceramic ware by Sarah Sykes, abstract paintings by Kate Thorpe and textile menagerie by Bryony Rose Jennings at 43 Toronto Terrace, Brighton BN2 9UX.

♦     Northern Lights
Another new house for Xmas 2018, Northern Lights has a Scandinavian vibe, just a short walk from Seven Dials. Printed and woven scarves from Alexander and Crofts, DNA leather bags, Martine Jans silver jewellery and Scoffin prints, textiles and Scandinavian decorations. Freshly baked cinnamon and cardamom buns for sale at 29 Lancaster Road, Brighton BN1 5DG.

♦     11 Rugby Road
A perennial favourite and placed in the top three Best Open Houses in May 2017, 11 Rugby Road is a Winter Wonderland of a Christmas Open House – a forest of Christmas trees festooned with decorations fills the lounge (every inch of space is cleverly used). Explore the installation-like displays and discover illustrations, unique cards and custom baubles, exquisite silver jewellery, ceramic flowers and crochet sprouts at 11 Rugby Road, Brighton, Bn1 6EB.

♦     The Snug
Curated by maker Jessica Christie-Miller, whose stunning feature wreaths and wall decorations are real showstoppers, Snug has covetable contemporary jewellery from Alexa de Castilho, ceramics from Rachel Thomas, mixed media from Brionie Porter and an enticing mix of art, sculpture, craft and interior accessories at 7 Caburn Road Hove BN3 6EF

♦     New England House
New England House is home to a whole host of artists and makers studios. They will be opening their doors this Christmas to a unique glimpse inside the life of their artists. Always a party like atmosphere – pop from studio to studio with a glass of mulled wine in hand sampling the art on show and for sale at New England House, New England Street, Brighton BN1 4GH.

♦     One Day Only, Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue
For one day only, the BHPS presents superb quality fine art and craft from 12 of the leading artists and makers in Brighton. Oils and watercolours from Cecil Rice, animal figure paintings from Artist Open Houses award winner Sophie Wake, Sussex coastline inspired paintings and prints from Lisa Green and geometric abstract art from Rod Yarrow, handmade ceramics from Rarebit design, jewellery from Emma Stanton, handmade ceramic tiles from Angela Evans and merino wool scarves and gloves from Jo Cranston amongst others at BHPS, 6 Lansdowne Place, Hove BN3 1FF.

♦     Jehane
Voted in the Top Ten favourite houses in May 2018, Jehane’s Open House shows contemporary artwork in a friendly, beautifully presented space. Brighton-born textile designer Jehane Boden Spiers will be exhibiting the work of seventeen artists from around the world, including her own designs. Popular Brighton-based ceramicists Atelier Stella and Ken Eardley will be taking part alongside new artists from Canada and New Zealand. The show will include jewellery, ceramics, textiles, painting, and print-making at 89 Waldegrave Road, Fiveways, Brighton, BN1 6GJ.

♦     A Journey from Hove to Sagra
Nicholas Carrick will be showing a collection of his paintings documenting his journey from his home in Hove to his regular destination in Sagra (Spain) to which he has travelled over the last ten years. The work will include his collections of Spanish memorabilia, tiles and other oddities that have given him inspiration for his paintings over the years at 69 Grange Road, Hove.

♦     Grace Eyre Art Studio
The artworks of the Grace Eyre Xmas Show are made by people with learning difficulties. Expect painting, print, textiles, mosaic and photography at Unit 2, Marshals Row, The Open Market, London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JU.

♦     Catarzyna
If you are on the lookout for beautiful Christmas decorations for your home or unique presents for your relatives and friends, then you should pop in to the Polish designer Cat-arzyna’s house – open only at Christmas. She transforms everyday objects with her unique blend of Polish-meets-French style of vintage chic. Expect decorations made from paper, embroidered home wares, handmade dolls, needle felted sculptures, shabby chic painted furniture and much more at 11 St Keyna Avenue, Hove BN3 4PN.

♦     Stanley Road Store
Shortlisted for Best Open House 2017, the Christmas Stanley Road Store promises to be even better. A whole host of talented artists and designers offering jewellery, fashion accessories, home interiors, Christmas decorations, sculptures, pottery and much more. It’s a unique, quirky mix of gifts with a large dollop of humour thrown in at 158 Springfield Road, Brighton.

♦     Rose Hill Rebels
Rose Hill Rebels are a group of residents who take part in weekly creative ageing activities. Funded by the National Lottery Awards for All and supported by the charity Equal Arts who bring artists in to facilitate sessions. Artists include Lanie Le Page who bases her work around nature, using wool, buttons and other mixed media at Rose Hill Court, Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton BN1 5HS.

Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses, the originator of the Open House movement, date back to 1981 when an artist from the Fiveways area of Brighton, Ned Hoskins, opened his house to the public to view his work and that of a group of friends. Other artists in the area followed suit to form the Fiveways Artists Group. In a city full of creatives, the idea proved popular and soon Artists Open Houses sprung up all over the city.

The Artists Open Houses festival is now the largest event of its kind in the UK. Around 200 houses and studio spaces across the city open their doors for the main festival in May and around 60 open during the Christmas festival. Over 1,000 artists and makers share their work and homes each year.

Local community comes together to support activist’s quest to stay in UK

Posted on by Besi

Friends and supporters of a migrant community activist hope for good news as his appeal to stay in the UK goes before a judge today.

Luqman Onikosi
Luqman Onikosi

AFTER developing fatal chronic liver disease Brighton-based man Luqman Onikosi will today appeal the Home Office decision to remove him from the country this week, at a court tribunal today, Thursday, November 15.

Brighton-based Luqman Onikosi applied to stay in the UK on medical grounds after being diagnosed with Hepatitis B and chronic liver disease while studying at the University of Sussex. His health conditions – which are fatal if left untreated – claimed the lives of his two brothers in Nigeria, where support for his condition is not available.

Luqman has explored all available possibilities for treatment in Nigeria to no avail, with virology specialist, Dr C.I Anyanwu, confirming that: “there is no definitive treatment available for the level of his condition he is experiencing in Nigeria at present.”

Being forced to return to Nigeria would be a death sentence for Luqman, and he and those close to him have lived for years in fear of this outcome. There is also great concern that wrenching Luqman away from his local support network would make the extreme decline of his health more rapid.

Now friends and supporters are hoping that a Home Office decision to remove Luqman from the country will be overturned, after he won the right to appeal his case before a judge this week.

Hundreds of people have gathered in support of Luqman, with local musicians and community members coming forward to speak at events held at Brighton venues Komedia and the Rose Hill Tavern on his behalf.

Community donations to a crowd-funder have paid for Luqman’s legal costs and over 7,000 people signed a petition to support Luqman’s need to stay in the UK. Local bus company The Big Lemon have provided one of their buses for free to help transport his many friends to court today.

Some of Luqman’s many achievements and contributions to the local community include being a lecturer at the Free University Brighton, volunteering for a community kitchen project, curating a series of lectures to advance knowledge of Hepatitis, organising events for Black History Month, and setting up a support group for other people facing chronic liver conditions in the city.

A letter signed by over 400 people, including Emeritus Professor Noam Chomsky, describes Luqman as both intelligent and dedicated – and states:

“Due to the lack of medical capacity to treat his condition in Nigeria, deportation is a death sentence for Luqman. He has already watched as his two brothers succumbed to the same disease, and if sent home he would inevitably face the same fate.”

For more details about Luqman’s campaign to remain, click here:

ManyVids celebrates Trans Awareness Week

Posted on by Graham Robson

Canadian adult entertainment video site launches campaign to coincide with Trans Awareness Week.

VIDEO-hosting and live-streaming site ManyVids, an adult community with over two million active members and more than 20,000 independent content creators producing, promoting and distributing their content, has launched the Trans Bare All campaign to coincide with Trans Awareness Week from November 12–19.

Trans Bare All features four of ManyVids’ trans stars – Sarina Havok, Natalie Mars, Shiri Allwood and Marissa Minx – discussing their experiences navigating the dating world, their search to discover themselves, the bathroom debate, and more.

A spokesperson from ManyVids, said: “We view the fight for trans rights to be an essential part of our quest to change the world. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues the community faces.

“At ManyVids, we strive not to just accept people but to celebrate them and to put our company’s principles of inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity, into action.”

Purrfect landlords campaign helps renters in South East own cats

Posted on by Graham Robson

Cats Protection, the UK’s largest cat charity, launches new campaign looking for Purrfect Landlords, offering free guidance to landlords and letting agents to help more people living in rented housing own a pet cat.

RESEARCH by the charity has revealed that finding cat-friendly housing is one of the top five reasons why cats are being handed into the charity’s adoption centres over the past 12 months. Research also shows that only 40% of private landlords in the south-east allow tenants to keep a cat.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations, said: “More and more people are renting their homes either by choice or necessity, yet very few rented properties accept cats. This means tenants are missing out on being able to own a cat, while landlords may be losing out on attracting responsible and settled tenants.

“We hear from renters who tell us most adverts state ‘no pets’. Often, the reason for not allowing cats is simply habit, with a third of UK landlords who don’t accept cats saying they didn’t proactively choose to ban cats, but instead followed a standard template or advice from a letting agent.

“The aim of Cats Protection’s Purrfect Landlords campaign is to transform renting so that responsible cat ownership benefits both landlords and tenants – happy landlords, happy tenants, happy cats.”

Andrew Collins
Andrew Collins

Broadcaster, writer and Cats Protection supporter Andrew Collins is backing the Purrfect Landlords campaign.

He said: “Cats are more than just much-loved pets, they’re part of the family and the heart of the home. For me, a home without a cat isn’t a home at all! They’ve got an important role to play in the lives of many people – from helping children understand about caring for others to providing a lifeline to pensioners who may otherwise feel isolated and lonely.

“It’s heart-breaking that so many renters are not able to own a cat but this needn’t be the case. Cats Protection’s Purrfect Landlords campaign is a major step forward in modernising how cat ownership is viewed in a rental market many people now rely on. By helping landlords see the benefits of happy, settled tenants, we can help more tenants experience the joy of sharing their lives with a feline friend.”

The charity has launched a new website full of guidance for landlords and tenants about allowing cats into their properties and addressing any concerns.

For more information on the campaign, click here: 

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