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The visual arts are a dynamic art form that seeks to constantly reinvent itself, blurring boundaries, asking questions and adding value to public spaces and places – and that’s certainly the case here in Brighton and Hove this Spring.

There will be a wooden work of art sailing into the Marina, people are invited to look through vintage sea telescopes showing augmented landscapes and ‘text their messages out to sea’ during a special walk, Turner nominated artists will be showing a film and there will be commissions in all sorts of places from domestic spaces to artist’s studios.

The Arts Council are delighted to support this wide range of projects, exhibitions and digital experiences set to take place, as part of Brighton Festival and in celebration of the 2012 Games.

The Boat Project is a living archive of people’s stories and lives, a 30ft vessel made from donated wooden items. From February to July 2011 the public donated their wood to the project but not just any old wood. Pencil or piano – exotic as Zebrawood or as familiar as pine every piece had a story behind it. The yacht will then be sailed along the coast of the South East of England this summer with four main stop offs – Brighton, Portsmouth, Hastings and Margate. It makes it’s stop off in Brighton between 9 – 17 May at the Marina.

Celebrating, commissioning around and welcoming the boat to Brighton is ‘Voices of the Sea’. The commissioning partners are: Fabrica, Blast Theory, Lighthouse, Photoworks, University of Brighton and Brighton Festival.

The commissions bring two major new works to Brighton. The Turner Prize nominated Otolith Group have made a new film work for exhibition at Fabrica, the second part in a trilogy reflecting on the sea and power Artist group Invisible Flock’s interactive sound walk, ‘The Sea of Voices’, developed through an artist residency at Blast Theory will lead the audience on a path from Fabrica to Brighton Marina, where Lone Twin’s The Boat Project will be moored. Invisible Flock are working with students from the University of Brighton to create additional sound scapes for the audio element of their work.

Invisible flock, who are currently working in Brighton to bring their very special piece to life said: “We are thrilled to be creating work here in Brighton. Sea of Voices is a multilayered, interactive experience that escorts people from the heart of the city along the promenade ending at the Marina. Along the way participants are invited to look through vintage sea telescopes showing augmented landscapes, and glimpses of Venus. Inside the breakwater at the Marina we have anchored a nautical buoy that will translate and flash out participants’ messages in morse code on each night of the festival.”

Sally Abbott, Regional Director, Arts Council England, South East, said: “The visual arts offer in Brighton and Hove is great news for the visual arts in the South East and demonstrates our strengths in the art form. This partnership of many Arts Council funded organisations will bring some excellent art to the region in celebration of the Cultural Olympiad and Brighton Festival. The exhibitions and experience of working together will help strengthen cultural leadership and the South East’s reputation as an innovative and exciting place for the visual arts. “

For more information contact: Nicola Jeffs, Arts Council South East

Tel: 01273 763013

Email: nicola.jeffs@artscouncil.org.uk