Copyright © 2024 Discover. All rights reserved

All views, information or opinions expressed in Discover Brighton are solely those of individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever, including the businesses mentioned within this publication and those to which are affected.

Making Space

24 Feb, 2025

Let’s Talk about Death: A Creative Exploration – Luna Arts – Artist Residencies & Projects (24 March to 28 March 2025)

Fabrica’s March Making Space residency has been awarded to Luna Arts. During their residency, artists Wendy Pye and Dagmara Rudkin will explore and develop ideas on how workshops and public events can use creative expression to ease anxieties and spark meaningful conversations about death, dying, and remembrance.

Luna Arts, founded by visual artists Wendy Pye and Dagmara Rudkin, is a Brighton based new community arts and wellbeing organisation dedicated to creatively exploring the cultural dimensions of death. Their work examines contemporary beliefs, attitudes, and rituals surrounding funerals, life ceremonies, and memorialisation, while creating a supportive creative space to break down barriers and encourage open conversations about death and dying.

This residency will also mark the launch of their Arts Council-funded R&D project, which focuses on developing Luna Arts as an organisation. As emphasised in Death, Dying & Devolution, an Institute for Policy Research brief, “Avoiding discussing death leaves us vulnerable and unprepared, which can adversely affect our mental health.” By encouraging open dialogue through creative activities, Luna Arts aims to challenge this avoidance and promote greater acceptance and understanding of mortality in a thoughtful, supportive environment.

During the residency, Luna Arts will collaborate with therapeutic practitioners, academics specialising in death studies and ethics, professionals from the death industry, and fellow artists exploring death-related themes. They will also engage in conversations and gather feedback from workshops and event participants to inform their upcoming projects with hospices and community groups.

On Tuesday 25 March, there will be the opportunity to participate in creative workshops that encourage open conversations about death and dying. Booking information coming soon

Join Luna Arts on Thursday 27 March at 6.30pm, as they experiment with the idea of hosting a Death Salon – an informal gathering inspired by the eighteenth-century salon, where ideas and culture were freely exchanged. More information and tickets here

This Death Salon is a space for collaboration and exploration, challenging traditional perspectives on death, funerals, grief, and memorialisation. Through presentations, installations, performances, and discussions, Wendy, Dagmara, and their guests will test new approaches to remembrance and legacy, inviting participants to engage in the process of rethinking how we honour and remember. More information and tickets here

Ahmed Khalil
Author: Ahmed Khalil

Related Articles

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Wed 4 Jun 19:45 @Brighton Dome Sophie Ellis-Bextor will embark on her largest UK headline tour in May and June 2025. Following the resurgence of her 2001 hit ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, the shows will feature classic tracks like ‘Groovejet’ and her latest single...

Currents

Wed 18 Jun 19:00 @Currents Fresh from their recent UK tour with While She Sleeps, Currents are returning to the UK to headline Chalk this June. They will be joined by Swedish metal band Aviana, promising an electrifying night of music for fans. Don’t miss this...

Slum Village

Sun 8 June 2025 19:00 @Chalk Hailing from the musical revolution of Detroit, this legendary rap collective has carved out a legacy with lyrical genius and funk-infused soul. Staying true to their roots with ice-cool wordplay and old-school authenticity, don’t miss...

Eva Lunny

Fri 13 June 2025 19:00 @TheRoseHill A sorceress of her craft, Eva Lunny brings an evening of soaring soundscapes and hypnotic harp melodies to the Rose Hill pub. As a highly skilled ambient music producer and composer, watch her sprinkle some stardust over your...

Overview – 12 Hours

Sat 21 June 2025 18:00 @Volks Volks throws open its sacred doors for 12 hours of bass-heavy belters and breakbeat treats. Featuring standout sets from drum and bass heavyweights Skeptical and SP:MC, with fierce support from Kyrist, Klinical, Molecular, and more -...

Milo Korbenski

Sat 28 June 2025 19:00 @Dust Anonymous in appearance but distinctive in sound, Milo Korbenski is quickly making himself known with timeless hooks, surrealist lyrics, and tight instrumentation. Catch this homegrown gem with stellar support from the mighty Shady Baby...

Brighton Brick Festival

Sun 15 Jun 10:00 @Amex Stadium Hold onto your bricks, as Brighton Brick Festival is unleashing a whirlwind of excitement! With new LEGO activities that include lightning-fast speed building competitions to super creative mosaic making rounds, minifigure hunts, a...

The Baddies – Live On Stage!

Wed 11 - Thu 12 Jun 2025 @Theatre Royal The Baddies love being bad. They roar, spook and cast wicked spells to try and scare a girl out of her wits…who will succeed? Or perhaps the girl is braver than they think… The Baddies is a wickedly hilarious adaptation of...

Pretty Muddy Kids – Brighton

Sat 28 Jun 14:00 @Stanmer Park Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The young fundraisers climb, crawl and slide their way around the course at their own pace, accompanied by an adult. The course is...

The Creative Connect Pride Pub Quiz

Thur 5 Jun 19:30 @The Roundhill Brighton  Get ready for an unforgettable night of fabulous fun, fierce facts, and queer brilliance at our Pride Pub Quiz! Whether you’re a trivia queen, history nerd, or simply here for the vibes, this is your moment.Dive into rounds...