Video Mapping of Brighton

We all know Brighton is a great city and its easy to wax lyrical about it for ages, but its also an extremely visual city and sometimes images can speak just as powerfully, sometimes more so, than the written word.

Which is why we decided to get involved in a really unique project at the Phoenix Gallery in Brighton, with resident video artist & lecturer Alvaro Collar.

Video Art Mapping of Brighton

Called VAM (Video Art Mapping) Brighton, the project aims to create an online interactive video-artistic Google map of Brighton that is easily viewable and easy for anyone to contribute to and participate in. Most of us have places in the city that we love and with the advent of Iphones and Flip video cameras we can all essentially take footage, transforming the nature of who can be a video artist

Watch the video for a flavour of the project.



Alvaro will be based at the Phoenix Gallery from May to July, setting up the project, holding workshops and compiling videos for the map.

Alvaro is a really nice guy too, as well as a complete whiz on editing techniques and transforming a basic amateur video into something really unique.

Take your own video footage of Brighton at a FREE workshop

A couple of us did a workshop with Alvaro last week and its really great fun - informative, interesting and well thought out. We'll post our videos for all to see when they're ready.

In the meantime if you want to find out more, check out the Video Art Mapping Blog.

And if you want to get involved (definitely recommended) Alvaro is holding a series of FREE workshops - the next one is on 30th May (10-4) at the Phoenix Gallery (advance registration required). You don't need expensive techy equipment - a mobile phone, with video capacity, or a Flip video camera is all you'll need.

Sarah
VisitBrighton

Brighton Festival Launch Weekend Video

If you haven't noticed yet (how could you not!) it's the annual Brighton Festival at the moment.

But did you know Brighton actually has FOUR festivals going on during May?

As well as the ever growing Brighton Festival with its cornupcopia of all things cultural, there's also the Fringe Festival for everything a little more artsy and anarchic, the fantastic Artists' Open Houses (probably the biggest free arts festival in Britain) and the adrenaline rush of the Great Escape (a must for muso lovers everywhere).

So, with so much going on, we sent Fat Sand out with their video cameras at the weekend to drum up a whirlwind, visual 60 seconds roundup of the festivities so far.

Check out the video below.

Don't worry though - there are still 18 days left to get your knashers round some Festival action...

Visit our Festivals in Brighton section to find out more...

Brighton Shopping - FAIR

One of the best things about working at VisitBrighton is that we are not stuck in the office 9-5, we get to go out and meet the people who make Brighton such a great place to visit.

On Friday I went to meet the people behind FAIR a new shop on Queen's Road selling fair trade fashion, gifts and homeware. They also sell beautiful hand-made stationary & cards so if you are buying a present for someone soon make sure you have a look.

I did feel a bit bad while I was in there as at the moment there are no mirrors in the dressing rooms (there will be soon though so don't let that put you off!) and so the lady trying on a blue & green dress had to use the mirror in the shop at which point we immediately started to oo and ah & say how lovely she looked. The poor woman probably hadn't wanted an audience but at least we were being complimentary, and she did end up buying it :)


To find out more about FAIR and all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes then make sure you visit the shop this Saturday (8th May) as it is World Fair Trade day. Siobhan Wilson the owner of the shop will be on hand to explain about the exciting projects she works with. Plus visitors on Saturday will get a 10% discount and a goody bag with all purchases over £10. But if you can't make Saturday then you'll be pleased to hear that the shop will be hosting a Fairtrade Wine & Fashion Charity evening, so you will get another chance to hear more about Fair trade shopping.

Charlotte

Band to hatch out of an egg in Brighton...

We have a saying at Visitbrighton for things that we reckon wouldn't happen anywhere else. So when we saw this event we all said 'Only in Brighton'...!

As part of The Brighton Festival 2010 The Myst band will be living for a whole week inside a great big 14ft egg on Brighton Seafront. Yes I did say egg.

On 8th of May at 2pm, the band will enter the egg to remain within its sea sprayed walls, without leaving until break out day.

They will eat, sleep, laugh, cry, play, write music, ponder, run on the spot, meditate for 7 days and nights before breaking out to a live outdoor gig on 15th of May at 2pm.

You'll be able to see one of the band members at a time, via a special air bubble window in the egg, throughout the week. You can also write a wish and put it on the wishing nest that houses their egg home or read other peoples wishes. The egg will also be streaming live via a web-cam.

The egg will be close to The West pier on the seafront. The countdown is on...before the egg hatches!

Check out more about the 2010 Brighton Festival.

Sarah

VisitBrighton

Festival news

I can't believe it but Festival time is almost upon us! Is it just me or does it seem to come round more quickly each year? Not that I'm complaining as it is a great time to be in the city as there is always so much going on. And while old favourites are back including the Children's Parade, the Big Splash, Fringe City and the Ladyboys of Bangkok there are a couple of exciting new things happening this year.


If you find that you are struggling to keep up with everything happening during the Brighton Festival or want to hear some debates and reviews then make sure you tune in to Brighton Festival radio sponsored by VisitBrighton. And as it is associated with us you know it's going to be marvellous ;) The radio station is already live to get you in the mood for the start of the Brighton Festival on Saturday so tune in to 87.7 FM or listen live through the festival website.

A new addition to the Brighton Festival Fringe is Residence a special pop-up restaurant which will just be open during May. The restaurant will be on Whitecross Street near Brighton Station and the reason for its name is there will be an artist in residence who will create an original piece of work on site in front of, and perhaps including, the diners. All of the artwork will then be auctioned in order to raise money for a local charity. The restaurant will be open for lunch, pre-theatre and dinner menus Tuesday - Saturday. For more information go to: www.residencepop-up.com

Charlotte

Am I in the wrong job?

I was suddenly hit by pangs of guilt as I realised that I had not written anything on the blog for a long time. As I decided to rectify this I started to wonder what to write about when it occured to me I could just explain why I haven't written in a while.

Basically it's because the press trip requests are started to come in thick and fast, and while in the past I have mentioned how lucky I am to do my job, when I'm organising the itineraries for journalists I do start to wonder if I should have tried to go into travel journalism instead of marketing. For example this weekend we have a journalist coming down who will be researching an adrenaline filled weekend in the city. This means they will get to try each of the following:

• Kite Surfing with Kitesurfkings
• Thunder cat racing with Lagoon watersports
• Orbing with ORB360

Plus they will be staying and having treatments at myhotel, dining at Oki-nami and experiencing colour therapy at Aloka!

It's a hard life isn't it?

Charlotte

Brighton Marathon Crochet Style...

Knit one, purl one, run a bit, knit one, purl one, run a bit...

Phew...I'm exhusted already.

Not not as tired as East Sussex resident, Susie Hewer though, who is not only making her Brighton Marathon debut on April 18th, but also her crochet marathon debut as well!

Guiness Book of Records holder

Susie already holds the Guinness Book of Records for the longest scarf ever knitted while running a marathon – 162cm – but she is going for something a bit tougher for her run around Brighton and Hove's streets.

There is currently no crochet record so Susie is going to create one and there will be spotters from Guinness around the course to make sure she does not drop a few stitches along the way.

Raising money for Alzheimer's Research Trust
Susie took up running seven years ago to raise funds for Leukaemia research, but when her Mum died 5 years ago, from vascular dementia, she switched to marathons and started raising funds for the Alzheimer's Research Trust (ART) instead.

We thought this was a lovely story and wanted to wish Susie all the best for her debut crochet marathon.

Go on Susie!

Oh and could you knock us up a new scarf on the way round if you have time please...! Just kidding...

Find out more about this year's Brighton Marathon or watch the official Marathon video.

Sarah
VisitBrighton