The Journeys exhibition, co-curated by the Student Engagement and Enhancement team and students, was held at the i360 and the Seafront Gallery over the week of Summer Graduation on 21-24 July. It explored the myriad journeys that students navigate throughout their time at Sussex. Whether it’s a physical distance travelled, or something less tangible, such as a moment of belonging in a space where they have never felt seen, these journeys are the backdrop of our students’ experiences, and we wanted to showcase these to the wider University and our local community.
To celebrate the exhibition, a special private viewing event was held on Friday 24 July, attended by around 80 staff, students and members of the public including Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, Mayor of Brighton & Hove. The event culminated in a celebration evening, featuring music, poetry and reflection performed by our students, as well as a student panel exploring diverse student journeys into and through the University.
Take a look at a video of the event by Digital Media Creator Danielle Smith
The exhibition sought to centre students who are marginalised or underrepresented within university spaces. By sharing their journeys, we aimed to foster deeper understanding, empathy, and compassion. We invited attendees to walk a path shaped by diverse and unconventional experiences, each one offering a unique perspective on what it means to feel at home and to truly belong in the University community. We wanted to create a space where students could express their journeys in a way that felt authentic and true to themselves; this came through in the feedback we received from students and staff who attended, and from the feeling of love and hope in the air.
One student performer said: "Thank you for curating such a wonderful exhibition and private viewing – it was so amazing to revive my poem, and I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of the other work, performances and panel responses. I think that you stated it beautifully when you said that the exhibition allowed students to express themselves how they want, for their own benefit."
Alice McCallum, Deputy Associate Director International said: "One of the things that struck me throughout the night was a real sense of love that filled the room. The staff members who created the event clearly care so deeply about the students, and they treated all of the participants with a warmth and kindness that made the evening feel like being in a bubble of hope and love. I know that many of the audience – myself included – were visibly moved by what they saw. It was so heartening, and so Sussex."
Find out more or get involved
If you would like any more information about the exhibition, or would be interested in collaborating on our next iteration in 2025/26, please contact Rosie Jones at: rosie.jones@sussex.ac.uk
Danielle Smith, Digital Media Creator, captured the event in this short (3 minute) video: