Bright basketball courts for Sussex students

Photo by Shane Lower Photography

If you've been around campus this week - specifically Park Village or Falmer Sports Complex - you may have spotted our new look, colour-charged basketball courts.

Late last year, the Students’ Union asked the young Brighton artist Lois O’Hara to work with us on a vision of turning the two run down basketball courts on campus into vibrant spaces for our students.

Lois had two high profile public art installations under her belt at the time: the Colourful Crossing on Brighton Seafront (commissioned by Brighton & Hove Council) and the Saunders Park Basketball Art Court on Lewes Road - as well as various smaller scale projects around Brighton, including the wavy walls at Patterns nightclub.

We were inspired by Lois’s transformation of the Saunders Park courts, and wanted the same magic on campus. The basketball courts were ideal as they were underused and in desperate need of refurbishment.

Park Village court before (above) and after (below).

Drone image below by Shane Lower Photography.

After months of planning and collaborating with SussexSport and University Housing on permissions and funding, the project was launched.

Lois has just this week put the final splashes of colour to the big basketball court next to the Students’ Union Clubhouse, having first tackled the formerly drab court at Park Village residence.

Becky Doran, the Students’ Union Activities Officer, said:

"We are so excited that Lois was able to bright-on...up our campus! The SU got the ball rolling at the start of this academic year by showing Lois the two courts on campus to see if this project would be possible. The courts are overseen by Sussexsport and the University and we are very thankful that they were both willing to work with us to improve these spaces on campus. Studies have shown that young adults exercise more when they are surrounded by colour and we believe the improvement of these spaces will benefit students for years to come!".

Since teaming up with the Students’ Union to revitalise our campus courts, Lois's most recent work has included a colourful Brighton bus designed in her signature style to bring attention to the issue of loneliness in contemporary society, and a mural inside Oxo Wharf Tower in London. Lois's star is on the rise - and we have an inspiring piece of her aesthetic on campus, to be enjoyed by students for years to come.