Liz Wakefield tells us about Sussex Nightstop’s collaboration with Cardinal Newman school for AOH
Untitled ‘2024’ – Alfie White
Hi Liz
AOH is delighted to be building on our last year’s partnership with Sussex Nightstop. Could you give a very brief outline of who Sussex Nightstop is and what you do?
We’re a youth homeless charity based in Brighton that provides safe, welcoming places to stay for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This prevents rough sleeping and the dangers associated with it.
Our short-term accommodation is made available through our volunteer host network: kind people with a spare room to offer and a desire to help. So just as artists open up their houses for the festival, our lovely hosts open their doors to young people in need, providing a place of safety while they work on their housing plan and get personalised support from us.
Fungi – Helen Twigge-Molecey
This year you are also partnering with Cardinal Newman Catholic School to put on an exhibition at the school as part of the Artists Open Houses festival. Can you tell us a bit about who will be taking part in the exhibition and how work has been selected?
The main attraction at our open house and online affordable art sale is artworks from local artists who have kindly donated art to help us raise funds for our SLEEPSAFE campaign. We have 40 artworks from these talented artists and alongside we also have 30 pieces from Cardinal Newman’s Arts Ambassadors and photography students, as well as 15 photography pieces from Brighton MET art students. The quality of work on show is amazing – and really inspiring across all media and we’re very grateful to all participating artists. The Arts Ambassadors have worked with their art lead Jane Ruby to select work from students.
Sandfield Pond – Jo Watters-Pawlowski
Is there a broader partnership between Sussex Nightstop and the school?
It was the idea of running an Open House together that ingnited our relationship. I met the school’s Marketing Manager, Lily Glynn at a business event last year and their values of Excellence and Togetherness very much chimed with our work. The school has such a positive can-do attitude and they got behind the idea and made it a reality. It’s also a great opportunity for their Arts Ambassadors to take on a project and make it their own – these are talented students with a love of art.
The Boys – Tom Clifford
We are really pleased that AOH is building on last year’s online auction collaboration with Sussex Nightstop. AOH artists have generously donated pieces of their work for auction. Can you tell us a bit about how people can bid for this work in support of Sussex Nightstop?
Yes if you visit www.sussexnightstop.org.uk/aoh2024 you can view donated artworks and submit a bid. If you pay the asking price, the art is yours. Or if you want to offer under the asking price you can make an offer and we’ll tell you if you’re outbid. We wanted this to be an affordable art sale. Prices start at just £15 and our most expensive piece is under £400.
Can they see the work in reality as well as online?
Yes people can attend our open house at the venue – Cardinal Newman’s BEACH (Business, Enterprise & Careers Hub) as well as viewing work online. Student artworks from the school and Brighton MET are only on view and on sale at the open house. We’re on the Dyke Road Trail and we have lots of onsite parking.
The Donut – Ruth Mulvie
When will the online auction close and how will buyers be united with the work they have bid for?
The online auction opens on Thursday 2nd May and ends on Monday 27th May, so that anyone who missed the festival can view and buy unsold artworks online the day after the festival ends. Any artworks bought online or in-person at our open house can be collected on the last day of our open house – that’s Sunday 26th May. We’ll also courier artworks to people living outside the city who can’t collect.
Brighton MET student
How do you feel the collaboration with Cardinal Newman and AOH also benefits students at the school and Brighton MET?
As a charity focused on young people, it was really important to us to showcase them at our Open House. Brighton is such a creative city and the MET is renowned for its creative courses, with anyone wanting to study art starting with a foundation course there. Cardinal Newman is the largest Catholic School in England and prides itself on giving each student the opportunity, support and challenge to become their personal best and to realise their God-given potential. So involving and celebrating these talented students is absolutely right.
Robertson Road – Claire Houlihan
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
To everyone who has donated art or is supporting us through the festival in other ways, like fundraising, we’d like to say a big thank you!
To AOH Festival goers, I’d say look online for yourselves to see the quality of work on show and come along to see it in-person. This is a great opportunity to buy affordable art and support a charity that has a big impact on young lives.
And thanks to AOH for their continued support, which we really value.
The Man Who Sold the World – Tony Mills
View donated artworks and submit a bid for the online auction.
Visit our Open House at:
COMMUNITY, KINDNESS AND RESILIENCE – IN AID OF SUSSEX NIGHTSTOP
Cardinal Newman Catholic School BEACH
(Business, Enterprise and Careers Hub),
The Upper Drive, Hove, BN3 6ND