We have space in our central Brighton studio coming up to share!
Would you like to join us? The space available is a large desk, shelving, storage, kitchenette, Wifi, and use of workshop tables. There is also access to loading bays, trader discounts and meeting space. This would be for long term use.
The space is available from beginning March or April 2020 onwards and will be sharing with Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage and our occasional studio hires.
If you would like to find out more then do get in touch!
From Tea Dances to Rock n Roll, Bring Your Stories to Life for Our Heritage Project
Were you mesmerised by Pink Floyd’s first performance of Dark Side of the Moon? Did you sneak into David Bowie’s infamous 1973 Ziggy Stardust gig as a teenager? Have you got a special memory of taking part in Brighton Festival Children’s Parade? Or did you ever perform on the Brighton Dome stage?
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival want to record your memorable stories as part of a new heritage project, I Was There to capture our history for future generations.
Delivering the project is Sussex-based organisation, Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage, who will be training a team of volunteers to conduct oral history interviews with participants.
The interviews and collection of memorabilia will be archived for future generations, and selected stories will be presented in an online exhibition and feature in a public programme of tours and talks at Brighton Dome.
Kate Richardson, Participatory Interpretation Manager, Brighton Dome said:
“We’d love to hear people’s unique recollections or from anyone who has a special connection to Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival – whether it was 50 years ago or more recently. We’re keen to speak to audience members recounting how they felt about seeing their favourite artist or witnessing a sporting event; performers and participants who took part in a show, as well as former employees who can tell us what it was like working behind the scenes.”
Since being converted into a performance venue 150 years ago, Brighton Dome’s three stages have seen a dazzling array of illustrious artists and musical icons such as Patti Smith, Beyoncé, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix, as well as hosting tea dances, wrestling matches and graduation ceremonies. And since 1967, Brighton Festival has brought thousands of international artists to the city with Guest Directors including Anish Kapoor, Laurie Anderson and Kate Tempest.
The interviews will take place between February and July 2020 and will be conducted by trained oral historians.
A member of our interview team will be in touch to organise where and when the recording should take place, at a time and place convenient to you.
Each interview will take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
The recordings and edited transcripts will be archived.
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival will have the rights to use archived material as a resource.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting the oral history project as part of their contribution towards the refurbishment of Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre.
If you are interested in taking part or have any questions, please email strikealight@rocketmail.com
Strike a Light – Arts and Heritage wishes you Festive Greetings
from all at Strike a Light.
A Happy New Year in 2020!
Thank you!
We’d like to say a big thank you for supporting us this year! To all of you who’ve attended sessions, worked with us, volunteered,or enjoyed our arts and heritage activities and events across Sussex.
We look forward to continuing forward with our unique blend of arts and heritage into 2020.
We’re closed until 6th January, look forward to seeing you then.
2019 has been a busy year for us with numerous projects, new clients, training and activities.
** 2020 is our 10th anniversary! **
Keep you eyes peeled for exciting new developments in the new year.
We are delighted to be working with Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival to deliver a new project starting in January 2020 to capture memories of events, performance and shows at Brighton Dome over the years.
Graduations, tea dances, roller derbies, pop icons, Suffragette protests, cutting-edge art, silent discos, hairdressing championships, tear-jerking theatre, fierce debates and Eurovision winners. We’ve seen it all.
‘And since being converted into a performance venue 150 years ago,
our stages have been graced with a dazzling array of illustrious artists, writers, dancers, musicians, actors and directors – from Harold Pinter to Maya Angelou, Muddy Waters, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder to David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Cohen and all the late Dancing Queens in between.’
As a volunteer, you will plan and hold interviews to creatively re-tell moving memories from Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival visitors.
This work will end up being part of an exciting story-telling project
about one of the most vital arts centres in heart of Brighton & Hove,
and the memories collected will be shared with generations to come.
Volunteers will:
• receive all training and equipment will be provided
• receive expenses
• need to be aged 18+
• need to commit to the project until July 2020
• need to attend a two hour research session once a month
• need to attend one day training sessions on 25th January 2020
and another date in April.
This event is free to attend but tickets must be booked, we have a few spaces left: http://bit.ly/2OOzb4p
Speakers include – Dr Diana Wilkins – Shalom Sussex Research Coordinator, Gideon Reuveni – Director of the Centre for German-Jewish Studies, and Professor Mark Connelly a specialist in Jewish memorialisation post-WWI and Jewish veterans in the 1920s.
2.45pm: Professor Mark Connelly – Director of Gateways to the First World War and specialist in Jewish memorialisation post-WWI and Jewish veterans in the 1920s
3.45pm: Dr Gideon Reuveni – Director of the Centre for German-Jewish Studies discusses his new co-edited book and the wider topic of The Jewish Experience of the First World War
5pm: Shalom Sussex project findings with Dr Diana Wilkins and researchers
5.50pm: Shalom Sussex Project Manager conclusion
6pm: Ends
The symposium takes place at: Room 105, University of Brighton, 154-155 Edward St, Brighton BN2 0JG
The project focuses on the contribution Jewish people in Sussex made during the First World War – both on the home-front and abroad on the battlefield.
To mark the end of the Centenary of the First World War, between March 2019-March 2020, this project is enabling people in Sussex to come together to preserve the memories and heritage of the Jewish people who lived locally during and post the First World War to collect these hidden histories.
Due to the huge response to tickets for this event, we’ve now issued ten further spaces for the Shalom Sussex Symposium. If you would like to attend, book your free tickets using the details below.
Get them soon!
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage is hosting a one day symposium for the Shalom Sussex – Jewish People in WWI project on Tuesday 10th December 2.30-6pm.
This event is free to attend but tickets must be booked, we have a few spaces left: http://bit.ly/2OOzb4p
Speakers include – Dr Diana Wilkins – Shalom Sussex Research Coordinator, Gideon Reuveni – Director of the Centre for German-Jewish Studies, and Professor Mark Connelly a specialist in Jewish memorialisation post-WWI and Jewish veterans in the 1920s.
2.45pm: Professor Mark Connelly – Director of Gateways to the First World War and specialist in Jewish memorialisation post-WWI and Jewish veterans in the 1920s
3.45pm: Dr Gideon Reuveni – Director of the Centre for German-Jewish Studies discusses his new co-edited book and the wider topic of The Jewish Experience of the First World War
5pm: Shalom Sussex project findings with Dr Diana Wilkins and researchers
5.50pm: Shalom Sussex Project Manager conclusion
6pm: Ends
The symposium takes place at: Room 105, University of Brighton, 154-155 Edward St, Brighton BN2 0JG
The project focuses on the contribution Jewish people in Sussex made during the First World War – both on the home-front and abroad on the battlefield.
To mark the end of the Centenary of the First World War, between March 2019-March 2020, this project is enabling people in Sussex to come together to preserve the memories and heritage of the Jewish people who lived locally during and post the First World War to collect these hidden histories.
Sussex residents are invited to share their memories – both as staff and patients – for the final phase of a heritage project co-ordinated by Strike a Light- Arts & Heritage, and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH). We will be collecting memories until December 21st 2019.
Participants will be asked about their memories of the five BSUH hospitals: Princess Royal Hospital – formerly Cuckmere and Haywards Heath Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Sussex Eye Hospital and Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre.
Oral history project manager Nicola Benge says: ‘We are interested to hear about training, about the social life of hospitals, of hierarchies and comradeship. We want to know about changes in the way that patients are treated, medical and technical innovations, in care and also, possibly, in difficulties or struggles. We very much want to collect the hitherto unrecorded or neglected story, for hospitals are more than bricks and mortar.’
Anyone interested in participating should contact: Nicola Benge (Project Manager) – strikealight@rocketmail.com
We’re pleased to announce that Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage is has received further funding for our reminiscence group aimed at older people called Silver Foxes. The group is based at Brooke Mead Sheltered Housing Scheme in Brighton but open to anyone over 60 years of age.
The group will be on alternate Fridays at 2pm starting on 15th November 2019 and will meet until end May 2020.
We will be exploring life memories and local history to encourage participants to try new things, improve their memories and meet new people – oh and tea and biscuits of course!
The Housing Act 1919, more commonly known as the Addison Act after then-minister for health and housing Lord Christopher Addison, paved the way for funding to councils to build 500,000 homes over three years. It is credited with establishing the principle of large-scale, state-funded provision of council housing at low rents.
We are pleased to be delivering a project to celebrate a centenary of council housing in Brighton and Hove for Brighton and Hove City Council.
“Brighton Corporation had begun slum clearance efforts back in the 1890s and even built a small number of homes to rehouse – though at rents they couldn’t pay – some of those displaced. In 1919 much remained to be done; the local Medical Officer of Health estimated 3152 new houses were needed to ensure a decent home for all.”
This project will explore and commemorate this for the anniversary, and to celebrate the fact that the council is now building homes once more.
We will share more about this project in due course, but there will be activities and celebrations coming up!
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage is a community interest company. We focus on exploring life stories and history through creative projects. Based in Brighton, Strike a Light works with and for the wider community across Sussex
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage hosts a symposium for the 
