Forty Eight Hours

The Gardner Arts Centre has been forced to close its doors after nearly forty years.

Due to a lack of funding and faced with mounting repair costs, the Gardner Arts board decided to close the venue.

Since the announcement, theatre staff have been preparing an archive detailing it’s glorious past.

Venue Director, Sue Webster says: “Its impact has been truly revolutionary. Through sheer volume and excellence, we have created a critical mass that has helped make Brighton & Hove’s art scene what it is today.”

Having opened its doors in 1969 the Gardner Art Centre has gained an international reputation for staging some ground breaking shows and exhibitions.

Stepping back stage, we get a glimpse of what has gone before. Memorabilia of all shapes and sizes are readily exposed.

They reveal some big names, grand productions and extravaganzas. The Gardner Art Centre’s legacy is being honoured and the archive will be stored elsewhere in East Sussex.

For Sue, that legacy means: “For the staff here, we intend to go out on a high doing what we’ve always done - creating great things. The spirit of the place will carry on through our work.”