Lack of funds has meant The Hanover Centre cannot afford to be on the Hanover Art Trail.

For the first time in its ten year history, The Hanover Centre will not be featured on the Hanover Art Trail (which costs £255) during Brighton’s Open Houses Festival 2012.

The Hanover Centre will still be adding an eruption of colour to Hanover’s diverse neighbourhood by showing the gallery independently throughout May.

Sue Bowes, a member of the Art for Women group, taught at The Hanover Centre, said: “We want to create a vibrant environment for people who live here, a sense of belonging and identity and give people an outlet for their own creative efforts. It’s all about providing the glue that sticks the community together.”

The exhibit features work relating to Aung San Suu Kyi (guest director of last year’s Brighton Festival), photography and portraits on sale from all ages and cultures in Brighton. Susie Courtault, Vice Chair of the Hanover Community Association, said: “We cater for all tastes, so you might not like one artist, but another piece may grab your interest. Because it’s so varied, people are going to find something they are quite taken by. ” Sue Nunn, who teaches the Art for Women group, was unsure whether the event could continue due to the fact that The Hanover Centre is self-financed and receives no council grants. Though, she said it gave locals the confidence to try art themselves. She said: “People might come in and think, ‘I used to like painting when I was at school. Maybe, I’ll try again.’ Instead of looking at it as a mysterious expression, you might think, ‘Actually, I could do something like this myself.’” The Centre has also collaborated with University of Brighton students, giving them a platform to show their original work.

Student, Mary Martin, said: “It’s brilliant to be associated with other Brighton artists, especially from Hanover. In Uni, you don’t get a chance to do much for the local community, whereas Brighton Festival gives you a chance to get involved with other artists. It’s a great way to integrate.” Mary said her art conveyed emotional attachment to places, and having moved to Hanover in September last year from Alderholt in Dorset, she was particularly proud to display her work to the community.

She said: “It’s so much more significant than if it was somewhere else in Brighton because, to me, it’s that locality that’s important.”

The Open Art Gallery is showing on the final two weekends in May at The Hanover Centre, 33 Southover Street, Brighton from 12pm to 4pm and entry is free.

For more information about this event and others at the Hanover Centre, call 01273 694873 or visit http://hanovercommunity.org.uk.