In a city celebrated for its creativity, Brighton’s art world is beginning to confront uncomfortable questions: Who really gets to make art? Who gets seen? And who gets left out?
MidStreetLab, a grassroots arts hub tucked away in Kemptown, is offering some pointed answers.
Their latest exhibition, Time Is the Real Currency, part of Brighton Fringe and Artists Open House, isn’t just a showcase of emerging talent—it’s a rallying cry for a fairer, more inclusive cultural ecosystem. Featuring 22 artists—many of them working class, under 28, women or otherwise underrepresented—the show represents a much-needed alternative to the prevailing art market logic.
“Art, creativity, wellbeing, community—these are the buzzwords everyone’s using,” says the show’s curator and MidStreetLab founder, Jean Jules Wachter, aka JJ. “But it’s like teenage sex: everyone talks about it, very few are actually doing it, and even fewer are getting the real benefits.”
Beneath the wit lies a serious critique. The numbers are stark: only around 10% of represented gallery artists come from working-class backgrounds. For young people without financial backing or industry connections, building a sustainable career in the arts often feels impossible.
MidStreetLab, by contrast, removes traditional barriers—no exclusive contracts, no exploitative commissions, no extortionate entry fees. Instead, they offer studio space, mentoring, platforming, and visibility on one of the city’s busiest creative stages—all with no cost to the artist.
“The reality is,” continues JJ, “if we’re not backing local talent and giving young and working-class creatives the space and support to grow—what are we even doing?”
The exhibition itself is a vibrant, tactile response to that question. From painting and sculpture to digital media and spoken word, the works on show explore time not as a luxury, but as a currency—something often denied to artists juggling jobs, caretaking, or just surviving.
With guest curator Dr. Jane Savage and a bold, artist-led programme of talks, workshops, and meet-the-artist events, Time Is the Real Currency doubles as a practical model for change. A highlight includes a relaxed panel discussion on May 22 titled Is Art Business?, where artists explore the intersection of creativity, commerce, and mental wellbeing.
MidStreetLab isn’t a protest—it’s a proposition. It’s what happens when artists take back control, create their own platforms, and prioritise meaningful engagement over market trends.
In a cultural landscape increasingly shaped by “gatekeepers”—be they galleries chasing commercial trends, funding bodies driven by buzzwords, or events priced out of reach—spaces like MidStreetLab serve as a reminder: art doesn’t have to be an exclusive club. It can still be what it always was—a shared language, a public good, and a spark for social connection.
Time Is the Real Currency runs until June 1 at MidStreetLab, 80 St George’s Road, Kemptown. Events run weekly. Follow @Mid_Street_Lab_Brighton on Instagram for updates.
photo credit-Gilly Clarkson
