Gardner Arts Centre

The Gardner Arts Centre is an arts venue at the University of Sussex campus featuring three distinctive concentric red-brick rings in its design. Inside, you will find a flexible auditorium with modern audio-visual equipment, rehearsal spaces, and capacity for up to 350 seated or 480 standing guests.

The building was designed by architect Basil Spence and opened in 1969 with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It was Britain's first dedicated arts centre on a university campus, establishing a new model for integrating the arts into higher education.

The centre hosts theatre productions, music concerts, dance performances, and digital art exhibitions that draw both students and visitors from the community. You can experience the cultural life of the campus through regularly changing programs that reflect contemporary artistic interests.

The venue is best reached on foot or by bus, as it sits within the campus grounds. Plan your visit in advance and check the schedule, as programs change throughout the year with different events and exhibitions.

The three concentric rings in the building's design were an innovative architectural statement when built, meant to represent the unity of different artistic disciplines. This geometric approach remains distinctive and makes the structure instantly recognizable on campus.

Location: Brighton and Hove

Inception: 1969

Architects: Basil Spence

Official opening: 1969

GPS coordinates: 50.86460,-0.08993

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40