How We Started

Rottingdean Arts was an initiative of Dr. Roy Wales and was formed early in 2011 with Dr. Roy Wales as Chairman and Artistic Director. Its foundation arose out of a specific interest of Roy Wales in creating and developing a new performing arts stage on the Rottingdean Terraces which would hold summer concerts and arts events.
Since then, Rottingdean Arts has spearheaded the development and fundraising for the new Terraces Stage, as well as encouraging and supporting Brighton and Hove City Council and Rottingdean Parish Council to pool their financial resources to develop the main concourse area of the terraces for general public use and provide a disabled ramp.

Rottingdean Arts’ fundraising efforts raised over £20,000 required to equip the stage for performances, including a new electricity supply for amplification etc.

Following the success of the first two Rottingdean Spring Music Festivals in 2010 and 2011, Roy Wales, as Festival Director, was very keen to build on the substantial public support demonstrated for music and arts events in the village.

As a result, Rottingdean Arts has now undertaken responsibility for a year-round programme of quality music and arts events in various venues around the village and a Summer Season of free concerts on the Terraces Stage. It has also organised successful four-day Jazz Festivals during the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2014 and 2015.