BRIGHTON FESTIVAL
Described as “England’s largest multi-arts festival”, Graves Son & Pilcher were delighted to be an official sponsor of the 2024 extravaganza.
Back in 1967, when the inaugural Brighton Festival ran, our firm was heavily involved in the redevelopment of the city. Both Mr Graves and Mr Pilcher were staunch supporters of the arts and the platform that has since launched many talented performers.
This year’s Guest Director, award-winning children’s author and screenwriter, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, curated an ambitious programme of theatre, dance, music, literature and film. Among the venues, the refurbished Corn Exchange welcomed audiences back under its beautiful timber-framed roof to imagine a better world filled with hope, wonder and magic. With exclusives from Scott Silven and Carneksy’s Showwomxn, an expanded international offering and inspiring local commissions, shows were creative, immersive and often transformative.
GS&P were proud to support the Without Walls events: seven new works that highlighted the best of outdoor performance in the UK today. They included a world premiere of aerial theatre from disabled and non-disabled circus company, Head Over Wheels, and a brass band parade celebrating the power of community.
As ever, Brighton provided the perfect backdrop for a three-week kaleidoscope of ground-breaking arts, accessible to all.
MARTLETS SNAILSPACE
In Autumn 2018, our firm sponsored Snailspace Brighton, a free public art event involving 50 giant Snail sculptures. The idea was to be #BeMoreSnail – spend time with family and friends, meandering around our city’s historical landmarks, whilst helping to raise vital funds for Martlets.
Martlets care for people living through a terminal illness in Brighton & Hove and the surrounding area. In addition to a hospice with 18 beds, the charity offers counselling, therapies and bereavement support. A Hospice at Home team of 10 nurses also provides respite for carers, allowing patients to spend their final days at home. The charity is only 20% funded by the NHS. The rest of their revenue comes from donations and fundraising activities such as Snailspace.
Our own Snail, Inca, sat outside the South Gate of the Royal Pavilion and was designed by Art + Believe. The talented duo are renowned for creating large scale colourful, geometric murals that bring architectural spaces to life. They have painted all over the world: Inca having been inspired by their recent travels to Peru. Their artwork is their way of giving something back to local communities devoured by tourism. They believe it is the first step in redressing the balance.
To help raise money for Martlets, our enthusiastic staff participated in a selfie challenge, rode a static bike along an imaginary Inca trail, held a pub quiz and spent time volunteering at the Martlets warehouse. At the end of the campaign, Inca raised an incredible £3,600 at auction.
Wooden Spoon
For years Graves Son & Pilcher supported Wooden Spoon, a local charity that changes the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children through rugby.
Every year the charity funds around 70 projects, from community programmes and specialist playgrounds to medical treatment centres and sensory rooms.
Since 1983, they have distributed over £26 million, helping more than a million children.
