Creative Space For Artists Now Open At Brighton's Corn Exchange

Anita’s Room, Brighton Dome’s brand-new dedicated creative space for artists to research, experiment and create bold and courageous new work, is now open and accepting applications for use. 

Part of the newly-refurbished Grade I and II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, Anita’s Room is fully equipped with a lighting grid, mixing desk and the latest 5G technology.

The space can accommodate up to 40 people within its main space, office and kitchen areas and is suitable for a range of activities, including: research, development, writing, rehearsal, workshops, retreats, experimentation, music making and community group work. 

Reflecting the importance of arts and culture in Brighton & Hove, Anita’s Room is designed to support works in progress, alongside small-scale performances and events. 

Performers and creatives from across the area can apply for a week-long residency in the space via a simple online process. Applications are welcome from individuals and groups across all artforms and at all stages of their career.

The space will also be made available to Brighton Dome’s Associate Artists, In-House Artists, and national and international visiting performers.

Anita’s Room has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from The Roddick Foundation - a family-run philanthropic organisation dedicated to the support of visionary organisations and individuals demonstrating exceptional creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and courage. 

The space is named in memory of activist, entrepreneur and founder of The Body Shop, Dame Anita Roddick, and was recently opened by her husband Gordon Roddick, alongside the leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, and Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival.

Residencies will start from February 2024 with 1500 ‘in-kind’ hours available across the space’s first year. Applications will be considered on a quarterly basis by a team of local artists and creative practitioners, alongside the in-house programming team at Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. 

Artists can apply via the Brighton Dome website and the first round of applications will close on December 12.

Peter Kyle MP, Anita Roddick’s friend and former mentee said:

“I knew Anita Roddick from when I was a teenager working at The Body Shop’s head office, right up until she passed away and I know she would want Anita’s Room - this incredible space named in her honour - to be used for creativity, learning and fun. 

"A supportive environment, where people are encouraged to stretch themselves, to make mistakes and to experiment was at the heart of all she did.

"Anita pushed boundaries and championed diverse thinking; she understood that an element of risk-taking lay behind every act of creative ‘genius’ and I hope that creative spirit will inspire everyone who uses this space.”

Writer Dulani Kulasinghe said:

“As part of a pilot scheme, we recently used Anita's Room to hold rehearsals for a staged reading of my work. This big, quiet, flexible space with a tidy little kitchen and its own breakout room allowed us to focus on the creative task at hand because it had everything we needed.

"It was a delight to come in each morning and know that this space was ours. It's not easy finding space in central Brighton for rehearsals and anyone needing an attractive, multi-use, creative space to write, read, talk or rehearse should seriously consider applying to use it. 

"Having access to Anita's Room gave me a feeling of belonging, as if Brighton Dome belonged to me, and my work could belong in it.”  

For more information about Anita’s Room and the application process, please visit brightondome.org/join_in/