August at Wach'Art - Creativity in Action: August is all about participation.
From our anniversary Open Call, This Is My Brighton, to artist-led workshops, new exhibitions and expanded opportunities for artists and local businesses, we're continuing to build a creative community where everyone can contribute.
This month also marks the launch of our evolving Artist Membership, Shared Studio & Window Gallery, Private Exhibition Hire, and Business Partnerships, all designed to support artists beyond a single exhibition and strengthen Brighton's cultural landscape.
As we move forward, we do so while celebrating the enduring legacy of our dear friend and Director Pierre-Yves Monnerville, whose generosity, vision and belief in community continue to inspire everything we do.
Explore this month's highlights below and read more to get involved.
For years, Brighton artists have built the city’s culture without the structure and care they deserved. Flow Mode is the long-missing production and exhibition home for practising artists, creatives and collectives across Sussex.
Story telling and print making reconnecting to the inner child: session for adults, parents and children. No expectations, no plan. Just being there and let go.
In a world full of distractions, one of the most valuable skills is learning how to look.What's the Story? is a welcoming gallery experience that invites children, families and curious adults to slow down, observe, ask questions and discover the stories hidden in plain sight.
A flexible shared workspace for Brighton artists seeking affordable studio access, peer connection and greater public visibility. Members can develop work in a supportive creative environment while benefiting from opportunities to display selected pieces in the window gallery.
A contemplative solo exhibition by Emma Liu exploring mindfulness, nature and the beauty of everyday moments through expressive ink drawings and ceramics. Accompanied by artist-led workshops, it invites visitors to slow down, reconnect with themselves and rediscover the quiet joy of simply noticing.
This Is My Brighton is Wach’Art’s first major civic open-call exhibition: a collective portrait of the city created by artists, photographers, writers, makers and local people.
Hire The Vault for a private exhibition, launch, workshop or creative event in a distinctive Brighton seafront setting. This flexible, public-facing gallery offers tailored support to help artists, curators and organisations present ambitious projects professionally and connect with new audiences.
Wach’Art is supported by a small, committed team working across curation, operations and public engagement. from the artists, volunteers, supporters and local businesses who shape this community every day.
A celebrated artist known for his vibrant and emotionally resonant works, Ole Skauge's art is a testament to the healing power of color and form. His paintings invite viewers into a world where brightness, peace, and tranquility reign, offering a much-needed respite from the chaos of daily life.
SILVER CLOUD ART Jewellery by Natalia Jaffe A compilation of artwork inspired by a non consumeristic ethos using precious and non precious materials to create unique and sustainable pieces.
Ole Skauge, a gifted Kemptown artist, masterfully captures Brighton's essence through vibrant compositions in oil on board and canvas. His work, depicting Brighton's landmarks like "The South Downs" and "Beach Hut @Sea", graces galleries, studios, and private collections.
Step into D. Calder's "A Father's Look" exhibtion at Mid Street Lab, capturing early fatherhood memories and human complexity. Each piece reveals personal struggles and the journey from addiction to creative rebirth. Available for commissions and workshops until June 21. Limited places available.
%20Large.jpeg)
Fama is a trailblazer who dismantles stereotypes and celebrates cultural diversity through her art. Growing up in a multicultural household, she developed a profound appreciation for the richness of various cultures.
Bo Lucas is a vibrant abstract artist based in Brighton. As a singer/songwriter, Bo's artistic background infuses her artwork with a sense of movement and narrative, reflecting her multifaceted creative talents. Spontaneous and intuitive, Bo is heavily influenced by her fascination with nostalgia.
Since childhood, art has guided Rachel through life's adventures. Brighton's vibrant energy became her cherished home while studying fine art at Brighton University. For nearly two decades, she has shared her passion as an educator, shaping young minds and enriching her own artistic journey.
Driven by a commitment to democratise creativity beyond traditional boundaries, our founder propels our mission forward.
As an award-winning poet and activist with Latin background and working class roots, Broken Glass's "The Anti-Art" challenges conventional aesthetics and norms delivering an elegant critique of late capitalism and Eurocentrism, inviting viewers to engage critically with society's complexities.
Join us at Mid Street Lab for a hands-on tapestry weaving workshop with D. Calder! Learn to create beautiful tapestries from scratch and unleash your creativity. Perfect for beginners and experienced weavers. Limited spots available, so don't miss out and sign up now on Eventbrite!
Helen studied Art and Art History at University in Aberdeen (UK) and New Mexico (US) where she also earned a massage and bodywork diploma. For 20 years, Helen has combined her art and therapeutic skills to promote peace and well-being. She now works at Anahata Health in Brighton.
Rachel's surreal paintings are born from a profound inspiration drawn from the natural world, where she skillfully merges its innate beauty with an irresistible sense of mystery. This captivating fusion serves as a gateway to self-discovery, inviting viewers to embark on their own journey.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration. Our exhibition, "I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE," showcases stunning visual narratives that explore identity, freedom and community. This immersive experience is designed to uplift and unite, reflecting our commitment to community well-being through positive imagery.
Since 2021, Antony Edwards has thrived as a trusted LGBTQ+ photographer in Brighton. Notable projects include campaigns for The Ledward Centre and Leathermen South, as well as collaborations with artists and authors. His work is celebrated globally in exhibitions promoting inclusivity and unity.
Career butler, turned photographer, Andrew found inspiration in the late 90's New York City's Times Square. His collection, "The Times Square," captures the beauty of actors and performers in black and white photography, reflecting his artistic dedication to the poetry of masculine aesthetic.
Pierre-Yves Monnerville, the visionary behind Unapologaytic, melds Parisian-Martinican influences into daring GBTQ+ exploration. Drawing inspiration from Mapplethorpe's "black book" published in 1986, and personal narratives, his photography catalyzes essential dialogues on defiance and resilience.
Revealing Horizons: Unseen Connections, plays with what we see and what we don't. Through stark black-and-white and surreal infrared photography, Fama reframes history and culture. Her work pulls us in, urging us to question the familiar and discover hidden layer of truth.
Step into Zombie, a groundbreaking exhibition launching for Halloween, where Mettle reimagines the haunting character to tackle themes of history, culture, and justice. Inspired by Fela Kuti's "Zombie," it critiques blind obedience, resilience and our relationship to power. Don’t miss it!
🎄Christmas Market Alert!🎄 Art lovers, join us at the studio to snag limited prints and exclusive pieces from your avorite artists. From Nov 21st to Dec 4th, meet Rachel, Ole, Bo, and more, enjoy hot brews and nibbles, and support local talent. Don’t miss out—come early! 🎨✨
.png)
The Anti-Art: A Visual Discourse on Transience returns to Brighton, Dec 6-15! Award-winning poet & activist Broken Glass, with Latinx heritage & working-class roots, challenges aesthetics & norms, exploring the personal, political, & cultural forces shaping society. Don't miss it!
A celebration of '20 Years of Skateboard Design' by Adam McEvoy, the creative mind behind The Drawing Boards. A 2-years project in the making we are proud to present you, only at Midstreet Lab Kemprtown.
Explore the profound idea that time is our ultimate currency and showcase your art in our Spring Group Exhibition, part of Brighton Fringe and Artists Open House 2025: your moment to shine and inspire!
For the first time and after much anticipation, we are thrilled to invite you to a unique, dynamic and empowering art auction. Not just another event: it’s a movement about championing local artists, celebrating exceptional talent and ensuring that art remains an inclusive experience for all.
Tea has thousands of years of rich history in China and this tea tasting experience will excite your tastebuds and give you some extra understanding of your favourite drink, and get to know What is the Chinese way of brewing and drinking tea.
Our lead artist resident returns with new materials taking inspiration in his former Tree of Life series, in this new body of work, Ole revisits classic imagery from the mainland he calls home today.
Brighton Fringe Award Winner 2024 - MidStreetLab presents a bold group exhibition exploring time’s impact on creativity and community. Featuring Brighton’s emerging artists and Guest of Honour Dr. Jane Savage, this show celebrates local talent, wellbeing, and positive imagery.
Following her standout debut in last year’s group show, Rachel Benjamin returns to Mid Street Lab with Between the Trees—a soulful, deeply personal body of work rooted in presence, memory, and quiet resilience.
Let's have a hot brew and chat, shall we? Enjoy a complimentary cuppa, reconnect with neighbours, local artists and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of our studio, we can wait to hear about you?
Create. Connect. Recharge. This summer, discover the power of creativity for well-being. Mid Street Lab is hosting a vibrant series of hands-on workshops designed to spark joy, self-expression, and connection—with a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and fun.
'Still, I Am Because You Are': A Contemporary Art Group Exhibition Celebrating Queer Joy & Unapologaytic Pride Featuring work from Residents and Jurors: Antony Edwards, Roseanna Sharville, Pierre-Yves Monnerville & guests
Marije Brom is a Brighton-based abstract artist whose work explores the emotional landscapes of trauma, chronic illness, and healing. Through layered textures and intuitive forms, she creates deeply personal pieces that invite quiet reflection and emotional presence without explanation.
The Arches Vault is our next big step: a new, permanent cultural hub beneath the seafront arches by the i360. Building on the award-winning Mid Street Lab model, The Vault will be a bold, inclusive space for sustainable production, ethical sales, and community-rooted creative practice
Young artists aged 6–12 were invited to take part in a joyful celebration of creativity and the natural world. Over the summer, they joined a series of workshops leading up to a special two-week Children’s Art Exhibition, running 6th–20th September
Bridging Heritage: Black & Brown Creative Influence in Brighton. An Initiatory Journey in partnership with University of Sussex, tailored for its Black At Sussex student organisation as well as for everyone else.
A visual statement from the margins on the aesthetic of identity in central Brighton by Isaac Mettle, multidisciplinary artist
Isaac Mettle is a multidisciplinary artist born in Accra, Ghana, and now based in Brighton, UK. His practice bridges photography and abstract painting, each discipline feeding into the other. “I photograph what I can’t paint, and I paint what I can’t photograph”, his mantra.
“Roots & Routes” is both a grounding and a journey. It is an invitation to look at where we come from, our cultural, social, and artistic roots, while also imagining the routes we take towards new futures.
More Than Hair is a 3-week exhibition and workshop programme exploring Black hair as cultural symbol and lived experience. Through installations, storytelling, and creative participation, it examines hair as a site of identity, memory, and resistance.
Brighton based British photographer Robert Ashby presents a striking visual dialogue on living, aspiring, and the human cost of belonging. A perspective sparking vital conversations across generations
Step right up! Come on down!The primitive world of the Colourstuff comes to town. Taking the gloom out of any room, eyeball pleasers and perception teasers mingle for your delectation.You want colour? We have colour!Get a Chroma zing to welcome the season. Step right up!
A playful, provocative hybrid of installation and gift shop exploring robotification, iconic imagery, and neurodiversity in social practice.
Run, Robot, Run explores the roboticization of popular culture, depicting near-and- far futurist visions in print, digital and animation. Created by Gareth Strachan and featuring works by: Beth McInnes, Marc de Launay and Yoni Goodman.
A fierce, tender exploration of borders, bodies and bureaucracy, Broken Glass x Vb jamming the gears of systems that sort, exhaust and define belonging.
Cabaret Lab is Brighton’s only monthly professional open-stage comedy-variety-cabaret show. Launched in 2016 at the Caroline of Brunswick, Cabaret Lab has grown into a heavy hitter on the Brighton performer circuit, and for almost 10 years Cabaret Lab has been the ultimate testing ground.
A Letter to the Artists Who Already Know Why This Matters. This isn’t an open call. It’s not a pipeline. It’s not competition dressed up as support.
We are a CIC non-profit artist-led organisation dedicated to supporting early-career, emerging, and established local artists, usually excluded from traditional galleries while creating accessible cultural spaces for the community. Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do.
Welcome to The Vault by Mid Street, Brighton’s award-winning creative hub rooted in purpose. This isn’t just gallery or studio space. This is space with ethos.
Many independent businesses in Brighton & Hove are looking for something more meaningful than logo placement. Something rooted. Something human. Something that actually speaks with the city, not just at it. Mid Street Lab × The Vault exists for those partners.
Be Brave, Be Generous, Be Visionary and support Local Contemporary Art With Purpose to heal, teach and empower. As a Patron, you’re not just collecting art: you’re investing in a growing ecosystem that nurtures local talent and cultural wellbeing in the city.
A dual-site solo exhibition by John Lymer across Mid Street Lab × The Vault. Through layered, process-driven works, the exhibition explores how memory settles into material and how meaning forms over time, inviting audiences to experience the practice across two interdependent spaces.
A playful, relational research residency exploring body, identity, motherhood and exposure. By Visual and Conceptual Contemporary Brighton Artist, Helena Bryant Taylor
Our spaces host a diverse range of activities, and we're committed to highlighting local talents, diverse voices and easthetics and encouraging experimentation within the art world.
Led by Rachel Benjamin, Artist & Director of WachArt CIC, this collaborative exhibition celebrates art educators who continue to sustain their own creative practice alongside teaching, giving visibility to the often unseen work made between classrooms, care, and everyday life.
This spring programme is part of Flow Mode, our year-round artist development: Two spaces. One season. A shared commitment to local artists.
).png)
Show your Upside Down House ticket at The Vault and receive its full value as credit towards any artwork, plus an extra 10% off the remaining balance. Enjoy exclusive access to "Chartwell Court" editions and works by Brighton artists while directly supporting the local creative ecosystem.
Rosie Sharville, aka Wednesday Child, is a Brighton-based queer artist creating vibrant, emotionally charged works balancing humour, chaos and tenderness.
Meditative Painting inspired by Japanese Wabi Sabi. Come and play! Embrace imperfection, impermanence, and find your natural rhythm. Mark making with rhythms in nature. Lots if chance to experiment and take home some new art. Open to any level. Suitable for Adults and supervised children.
Skill & Creative development based workshop summer series. Booking only, limited spots. Skill & Creative development based workshop summer series
There is something disorienting about encountering Rod Mahony's work.At first glance, it looks familiar: a neglected alleyway, a battered skip, a garage door layered with tags and memories.
This Is My Brighton is The Vault’s anniversary open call and the first edition of a new annual project. Artists and creatives are invited to respond to Brighton through four themes: Places, People and Communities, Hidden Brighton and Future Brighton.
Art Exhibition, Launch Events, Performance: Welcome to Mid Street Lab Kemptown, Brighton’s award-winning creative hub rooted in purpose.
