Brighton and Hove’s famous artists’ open houses

Andrew Kay asks you to cast your vote for art

Year on year I am lured into potential debt by the pull of Brighton and Hove’s famous artists’ open houses. The onset of May should signal warnings to hide my cheque book, but I invariably venture out and indulge, whether it is something for me or a gift for a friend.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the first trail and, quite rightly, there will be much celebrating. The first year was inspirational and has gone on to spawn open house art trails across the country.

At Latest Media we have long been associated with the trails and proudly so. For the last few years we have presented an award for the Best Open House. It’s never been an easy task, after all, there are in excess of 250 separate exhibitions across the city over three available weekends, so judging has been a huge task.

Until last year this was undertaken by teams of our writers going out and coming back with nominations from which we would make a final choice. Last year we invited the separate trails to become involved by making nominations, which was a new idea and one that worked in part, but not entirely.

“We have come up with a new way and decided to throw voting open to the public”

So this year we have thought again and come up with a new voting system. We have decided to throw voting open to the public. You will be able to nominate the exhibitions that you think are the best, online. Using ‘clever-clogs’ technology you will be able to register, login and place your vote. We have done everything we can to ensure that people cannot abuse the system and we feel sure that this is a massively improved way of doing things, involving the whole of the city, or at least those of you who go out and enjoy the event.

At the end, we will collate the votes and a small team of judges, chaired by yours truly, will go to see the top ten and make a final decision. Not that we do not trust the public, but we do feel that some houses will rise to the top because of footfall as much as talent.

I am looking forward to the whole event and am approaching it with refreshed eyes and spirit. Don’t let us down, get out there with your cheque books and cash (remember few have card machines), and vote, vote, vote!