A Place for Reflection: New Public Sculpture Marks a New Chapter for Moulsecoomb

A monumental new sculpture has arrived at Moulsecoomb Place – and with it, a clear signal of what East Brighton Trust believes the local community deserves: culture, investment and genuine opportunity, right here, on their doorstep.

The work, created by acclaimed artist Simon Cooley, is carved from stone carrying 350 million years of geological history. It now stands permanently in the grounds of Moulsecoomb Place, where EBT is transforming the historic Manor House and Tithe Barn into a creative community campus for local people.

The sculpture has been funded entirely by Richard Upton, Chairman of Cathedral Group – covering commission, logistics and installation in full, at no cost to the public purse or to EBT. It was given voluntarily, out of a shared belief that art belongs in communities where it can have real impact.

Built for a community that deserves more

Moulsecoomb is a community facing real and persistent challenges. Many children here grow up in poverty. Educational deprivation is significant. Too many young people are without work, training or a clear path forward.

That’s why EBT exists. We know that lasting change takes more than good intentions, it requires collaboration, patience and investment in both people and place. Our vision for Moulsecoomb Place is built around three pillars: creativity, enterprise and wellbeing. Together, they provide the foundations for new opportunities, stronger communities and better futures for the people of the east and north of Brighton. Everything we do is designed to open doors for local people – not someday, but today.

The Manor House and Tithe Barn are already home to AudioActive, Culture Shift, Vincent Dance Theatre, Brighton People’s Theatre and local musicians, Eaves Studio, bringing music, movement, dance, art and creative possibility into the heart of the neighbourhood. The campus around them is taking shape as a place where local people can learn, create, connect and build something for themselves.

This is what we mean when we talk about a creative community campus: not just a building, but a living, working environment built on the belief that east and north Brighton’s working-class communities deserve the same access to culture, education and economic opportunity as anywhere else in the city.

A night to remember

On the evening of 10 June 2026, we came together on the lawns of Moulsecoomb Place to celebrate the sculpture’s arrival.

Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove Council, joined us as a guest speaker. AudioActive and Vincent Dance Theatre, two of our Manor House tenants, performed on the lawn. Food and drink were served in The Skep, our new on-site venue.

Iain Chambers, who works for EBT in a part-time capacity, directed the BBQ and canapés alongside Carly and Jess from Cooking Good in the Community, ensuring guests were well fed and watered throughout the afternoon. It was a great example of the kind of partnership working EBT hopes to build on as it develops catering and hospitality opportunities at Moulsecoomb Place with local providers.

The evening was funded by Richard Upton and organised superbly by Sarah, Head of Operations at EBT along with Perception Events.

It was a reminder of what happens when people invest in a place – and what becomes possible when a community is given something worth gathering around.

Art that belongs here

Nationally significant art and culture should not be the preserve of city centres and seafronts. They belong in communities where the impact is greatest and where a sculpture on a lawn can quietly tell people something important: that they matter, that their neighbourhood matters, and that something worth believing in is being built here.

Simon Cooley’s work – A Place for Reflection – is a lasting landmark for Moulsecoomb. We hope it becomes somewhere people pause, think, and feel connected to something that stretches far beyond the everyday.

In their own words

“It was a really special event and a wonderful reflection of the community spirit and creativity that is growing at Moulsecoomb Place for local residents. The warmth, welcome and professionalism from East Brighton Trust and its partners was striking, and the sculpture provides a thoughtful and lasting addition to this historic setting.”

– Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council

“This is far more than the arrival of a sculpture. It is a statement of belief in Moulsecoomb, in its people and in its future. Bringing exceptional public art into the heart of this community reflects our commitment to ensuring that culture is accessible to everyone – not just those in more affluent parts of the city.”

– Gary Pleece, CEO, East Brighton Trust

“Public art creates identity, sparks conversation and demonstrates confidence in a place. Heritage, art and an immediate start are the key ingredients of successful regeneration — and here, again, we deliver all three.”

– Richard Upton, Chairman, Cathedral Group

“This sculpture is the result of a lifetime of making and thinking through Sculpture. To see it placed in Moulsecoomb, where it can be encountered and owned by the community, is deeply important to me. Art has the power to connect people to time, place and each other.”

– Simon Cooley, Sculptor

East Brighton Trust is about creating places and opportunities where people feel they belong. As someone who grew up in this community, I know how important that is. This sculpture will mean different things to different people, but if it encourages conversation, reflection and connection, then it has already achieved something valuable. It’s a wonderful addition to Moulsecoomb Place and a reminder that culture, creativity and public spaces belong to everyone.

– Donna James, Interim Chair, East Brighton Trust