11 Rugby Road, Brighton, which was to form part of this month’s Open Houses, has released a run of special edition Rainbow Brighton Icon Prints with £5 from each print being donated to the Brighton Rainbow Fund,which gives grants to local LGBTQ+/HIV organisations who deliver effective frontline services to LGBTQ+ people in the city.
11 Rugby Roadis the place to go to for everything from ceramics to cards and pencils to prints. It’s run by Daniel Mackey and his partner, Adam. As has been the case for many businesses, they have had to change the way in which they operate as Daniel explains. ‘In addition to adapting how we sell by moving online, we set up an honesty box style system to sell bits of art – including paint your own ceramic mushrooms and flowers.’
It’s been a hectic time for them, but they are wary of the fact this pandemic has affected everyone in some way. When people were first advised to stay indoors, they set about producing free to download templates to ‘give people an outlet for their creativity’.
Raising money for charity has also been on their minds. This began with plant sales in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care. They also used their craft set up to showcase adults with learning disabilities, again raising funds for them.
Now their attention has been aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. With Brighton & Hove Pride not taking place this year, the amount raised for the Brighton Rainbow Fund fall. Daniel told us how he and his partner have both taken part in the Pride march. For them both, they ‘felt the power for good that it does.’
With that in mind, graphic designer Daniel got to work and adapted some of his most popular Brighton designs for a rainbow flag edition. This features the Pavilion, West Pier, i360 and Brighton Bandstand. Each print sold will see the Rainbow Fund receive £5.
Daniel feels that the rainbow imagery/pride flag is ‘blurring problematic’ but it’s the fundraising that counts. ‘If the design is enjoyed by non-LGBTQ+ people and raises money then that can only be a good thing,’ he said.
