This year's Brighton Festival has arrived, as always, with a burst of thunderous noise and an explosion of colour.

The city is buzzing with festival fever and organisers believe England's biggest arts celebration is shaping up to be one of the best yet.

It is not just the performers and paying punters with smiling faces, however - dozens of businesses have sponsored the event and are delighted their money can contribute to its success.

A host of companies, from the largest multinationals to one-office firms, have chipped in to contribute about £400,000.

The festival would be a shadow of itself without their help.

Nick Dodds, chief executive of the Brighton Festival, said: "Sponsorship is vital as it accounts for about 25 per cent of the income from the festival.

"If we didn't have it we would have to lose a quarter of the programme."

The festival has four staff working full-time, all year round, trying to attract corporate and individual sponsors.

It is never an easy job, according to Mr Dodds, but it has been made harder by the worsening economic climate over the last few years.

He said: "In the Eighties and Nineties it was very much the done thing for companies but recently it has become more difficult.

"It is always a challenge to raise funds but as the festival gets a better reputation, more people want to become involved."

Businesses take a keen interest in the event they sponsor.

American Express has been supporting the development of the festival's contemporary dance programme for the past three years and this year sponsors the Cullberg Ballet.

Jo Crockett, public affairs and communications manager, said: "This gives an opportunity for people to experience a level of contemporary dance that they would probably not have outside the festival."

American Express money also went towards a workshop where dance students from Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College worked with members of the Swedish-based ballet troupe.

Ms Crockett said: "We aim to support educational opportunities, promote the performing arts and encourage up-and-coming young local talent."

Brighton Marina is sponsoring The Big Splash, an afternoon of maritime mayhem featuring dozens of dancers and musicians on Saturday, May 14.

Kirsty Harris, of the marina, said: "For us not to support the festival would be missing out.

"Last year the Big Splash attracted more than 18,000 visitors in one day and brought fabulous chaos to the marina.

"It is a great opportunity for us to show off the whole site."

Clare Dobson is development manager at Brighton University, which is sponsoring the Preljocaj Ballet's performance of Near Life Experience.

She said: "We regard ourselves as integral to the Brighton arts scene as we have a large and successful faculty of artists and architects based at our Grand Parade site."

Legal & General has sponsored the festival's Adopt An Author scheme, which gives schoolchildren a chance to link up with some of their favourite writers through email.

Community involvement manager Kristie Scarle said: "Increasing young people's interest in literature through email, which younger people are using on a daily basis, is an innovative scheme. We've been able to see the online conversations and were amazed by the imagination of the children involved.

"We are proud to be associated with such a successful project that has been expanded to enable more young people to achieve their potential."

James Caulfield, marketing officer at Brighton-based DMH solicitors, said: "Although we are not supporting a specific event, we have an exhibition running throughout the festival of work by four Brighton-based artists.

"Anyone can come along to our offices at 100 Queen's Road and enjoy a look around."

Other small businesses have joined together to have a bigger impact.

Paul Bonett, of Bonett's Estate Agents, came up with the idea for In The Bag, a co-operative of companies which pool their finances to sponsor a show, which this year is macabre drama Ladies And Gents.

He said: "We have been involved with the festival for a few years now but sometimes it has been a struggle to raise the finances so I thought it would be a good idea to share the costs.

"We get promotion within the festival magazine and also some kudos among our customers for getting involved.

"What we have also found is it gives us a nice opportunity for different kinds of businesses to come together socially and do a bit of networking."

Other businesses involved with In The Bag are Gaskells independent mortgage advisors, BN3 Lifestyle, Early Years Childcare plc and property managers FSPM.

Mr Bonett said: "I hope in years to come more companies will do it."

Thursday May 06, 2004