ArtDependence | University of Brighton to close Brighton Contemporary Centre with Immediate Effect

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

In common with many arts organisations, and other universities across the sector, the University of Brighton faces financial challenges which means that we are having to reduce our expenditure. The decade-long freeze in undergraduate tuition fees has reduced their value in real terms by around a third, while the increase in our costs as a result of generationally high levels of inflation has created further pressure. This has led to the difficult decision to close the BCCA

Brighton CCA’s Artistic Director Ben Roberts commented

“It is hugely disappointing that the University of Brighton has taken the decision to close Brighton CCA. Since the programme was launched in 2019, the response from our peers, students and colleagues has been overwhelmingly positive and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved in this time; both using our resources to both support learning, and nurturing the cultural ecology of the city.

I’d like to thank my amazing team, our partners, participants, collaborators and especially the artists who have all contributed so much to the programme.

We also recognise we are not alone in this, and send support and solidarity to colleagues and students continuing to fight the University’s wider proposed redundancy plans.“

A university spokesperson said

“Given the competing demands on our resources, we now need to focus on our core business of providing the best educational experience we can for all our students, whilst continuing to meet our regional priorities and ambition through research and innovation.”