Brighton Digital Festival receives £173,000 funding boost

A leading Brighton festival has received a £173,000 funding boost to support it for the next two years.

Brighton Digital Festival, which runs throughout September, said the money from the Arts Council England will help it grow the community-led event both at home and abroad.

Top of the priority list is to develop more events while the pot will also support the recruitment of an in-house director and marketing.

A number of commissions will also be made available through the Grassroots Fund, which awards grants for projects that utilise and connect art with design and technology.

Cate Canniffe, Arts Council England’s south east director, said: “Brighton Digital Festival is a really important part of the arts and culture ecology in the South East and one that we are pleased to be able to support.

“It provides an important opportunity for organisations – such as Lighthouse, Brighton Museum and South East Dance – to showcase digital work and reinforce the critical link between arts and culture and the economic success that is such a feature of the creative industries.”

Last year’s festival featured more than 170 events – up 67% from 2012 – and was attended by more than 40,000 people.

Events included conferences, exhibitions, installations, workshops, outdoor events and meet-ups alongside an education programme.

As well as the funding from Arts Council England, sponsorships has been secured from Brighton-based firms Brandwatch and Pure360.

Recruitment for a new director to co-ordinate events is ongoing while a consortium of local organisations supports those hoping to host events.

For more details visit www.brightondigitalfestival.co.uk or follow @DigitalBrighton on Twitter.