Figures from the worlds of sport, business, entertainment and the arts launched the Brighton and Hove - Where Else campaign.
Representatives of organisations including the Albion, Same Sky, Southern FM and McDonalds were among guests at the dinner last night at City College Brighton and Hove.
All the guests are taking part in this year's campaign to promote Brighton and Hove's bid to become European Capital Of Culture in 2008.
The campaign begins in earnest this weekend with the grand reopening of the Brighton Dome concert hall after a £30 million refurbishment.
This will be followed by a series of high profile cultural events, from a street carnival to a programme of sculptural "jewellery" for city buildings.
Where Else chairman Coun Jackie Lythell spoke about the aims of the campaign and other speakers included city council leader Ken Bodfish and Nick Dodds, chief executive of the Brighton Dome.
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