Heritage Open Day

In 2025, we mark 90 years since the venue’s striking Art Deco transformation— a refurbishment that helped shape the venue we know today. Explore the style and spirit of our remarkable redesign with an exclusive talk by Dr Kathryn Ferry on twentieth-century seaside architecture, along with backstage tours and hands-on craft activities for all the family.

Children's Parade

Arts Charity Same Sky, the creative engine behind Brighton Festival's Children’s Parade, will be at Heritage Day.

Join them to kick start the planned 40th anniversary celebrations for the Children’s Parade on May 2 2026.

For your inspiration they will bring cherished big-makes, decorations and host a table top drop-in creative making activity.

Same Sky will explain more about what goes into making the parade happen each year and they seek your help recalling memories of the Children’s Parade.

How many generations of your family have paraded?

Were you in the first parade?

Have you a favourite memory of watching the parade pass by?

What does the Children’s Parade mean to you?

10am and 4pm, Foyer 

60th Brighton Festival: Call for memories and archive items

In May 2026 we will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of Brighton Festival and we’d love you to be part of the story. 

We are seeking personal stories and memorabilia that capture the spirit of the Festival across its six decades. Drop in, contribute to our growing archive, and add your voice to the Festival’s history.

10am–4pm, Foyer

Brighton Dome Memories with Tommy 

Come and say hello to Tommy at Brighton Dome this Heritage Open Day! 

Tommy will be gathering stories and memories from anyone who’s spent time at Brighton Dome. It could be about a show you’ve seen, your very first visit, a funny moment, or just a memory that’s stayed with you. 

Big or small, every story matters. These shared memories will be collected and turned into a special visual piece celebrating Brighton Dome and the people who bring it to life.

11.30am–1pm, Foyer | 2–4pm, Welcome Area

Seaside Inspired Crafts with Laura Halliwell

Work with artist Laura Halliwell and be inspired by beach huts, amusements and the fantastic architecture of the seaside to create colourful cards and postcards to keep or send. A drop in workshop for all ages!

1–3.30pm, Foyer

Cyanotypes with Lottie Wilson 

Step into the world of architecture and image-making in this hands-on family workshop inspired by the history of Brighton Dome. 

Together we’ll explore the fascinating process of cyanotype printing – one of the oldest photographic techniques, and the origin of the term blueprint. We’ll experiment with architectural drawings, plans, and historic designs of Brighton Dome, turning them into unique cyanotype artworks. 

For younger participants, there’s also the chance to redesign Brighton Dome: draw your own architectural vision onto acetate with paint pens, then watch it transform into a beautiful blueprint print.

1–3.30pm, Foyer

Brighton Dome and the Art Deco Seaside

Join historian Dr Kathryn Ferry, author of a new book on Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture, as she explores the Art Deco redesign of Brighton Dome and discusses the wider context of buildings from the interwar holiday boom. During the 1920s and 30s competition between resorts intensified as increasing numbers of British people won the right to paid holidays. New attractions sprang up to meet this demand including open-air pools, entertainment pavilions and dance halls, streamlined beach huts and even pioneering car parks. For existing structures like the historic Dome, a modern revamp capitalised on the popularity of Hollywood movies and Riviera-inspired sun worship.

Dr Kathryn Ferry is an author and architectural historian who likes to be beside the sea. Her publications include the official history of Butlin’s as well as titles on beach huts and bungalows. She is a founder member of the Seaside Heritage Network and a frequent contributor to television, radio and podcasts.

12.30pm, Concert Hall

Book for Dr Kathryn Ferry's Talk 

Backstage Tours

In 2025, we mark 90 years since the venue’s striking Art Deco transformation— a refurbishment that helped shape the venue we know today. Explore the style and spirit of our remarkable redesign by joining us for a backstage tour.

10.15am, 11am, 2.15pm (BSL interpreted), 3pm, Foyer

Book a Backstage Tour

The Corn Exchange and Studio are open for sneak peeks with our fantastic heritage volunteers

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra 

Pick up a copy of The Centenary Book: 100 Years of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra which will be available to purchase throughout the day. 

‘BPO’s biography reads like a thriller with a cliffhanger ending.’ 

– Music Director Joanna MacGregor

10am–4pm, Foyer