In Brighton & Hove, a region long celebrated for its progressive energy and bohemian creativity, a radical new arts concept is taking shape. The Adelaide Salon, founded by Pascal Dowers and Paulina Anzorge in their Regency home by the sea, is reimagining the way we experience art. Blending performance, music, dance, conversation, and visual arts, this 21st century salon is making waves across the Brighton art scene and beyond.
After attending one of their inspiring Salon Soirée’s in Hove–and experiencing the alchemy they create as curators of an unforgettable evening of art, dance, music, performance and philosophical discussions–I returned to their home to view an exhibition of painting by The Baron Gilvan and talk to Dowers and Anzorge about the inspiration behind their resurrection of the 19th century Salon model. The Baron Gilvan created a series of large-scale monochrome paintings depicting bouffons and clowns in carnivalesque scenes. The Baron’s bold draughtsmanship and confident mark-making recall Picasso’s Rose Period when he depicted acrobats, clowns and circus performers, and in person he has the air of a modern-day Dandy.
A Modern Revival of the Historic Paris Salon
The Adelaide Salon takes inspiration from the great salons of Paris in the 17th to 19th centuries–spaces where artists, writers, and philosophers gathered to debate, perform, and spark cultural revolutions.
Dowers and Anzorge’s interpretation is distinctly modern. Gone are powdered wigs and candlelight; instead, evenings at The Adelaide Salon feature immersive performances, bold contemporary art, and dialogue that resonates with today’s cultural moment. Their Salon events attract a curated, eclectic selection of people in the arts–artists, curators, designers, musicians, performers and philosophers–as well as guests from professions that are completely unrelated to the arts but are curious to get involved in that world.
“We wanted to create a space where art and dialogue flow together,” Dowers and Anzorge explain. “The Adelaide Salon is about exchange, not separation–about creating a living, breathing conversation.”
Reinventing the Alternative Gallery Model
The Adelaide Salon represents a bold response to the limitations of traditional white cube galleries. Many artists and audiences today feel disillusioned with the commercialism of the art market, where auction houses and polished gallery spaces can feel detached from real people.
“Artists have become increasingly disillusioned with the ultra-capitalist model of the current art world,” say Dowers and Anzorge. “We believe in something more diverse, more inclusive, and ultimately more human. Our philosophy is that artists, thinkers, and patrons are all part of one entity.”
Instead of sterile walls, The Adelaide Salon creates porous, community-focused experiences. Art forms are curated not linearly but as constellations: a mix of painting, sculpture, experimental sound, ritual, and performance, all interwoven into one immersive evening. Guests, too, are curated to ensure art insiders mix freely with lawyers, financiers, and the art-curious–people eager to step into the world of creativity without intimidation.
Immersive Art Experiences in Brighton & Hove
A night at The Adelaide Salon is not about passive spectatorship. Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the experience–whether that’s through a one-to-one performance encounter, a whispered poem, or a surreal artwork like The Baron Gilvan’s dreamlike clown portraits.
Every element works to dissolve the barriers between artist and audience. “The exchange between artists and the audience is at the core of our vision,” they explain. “The impact of this exchange has the potential to expand horizons and influence the way we engage with the wider world. We are already seeing the ripple effect.”
Collaborations and a Growing Ripple Effect
The Adelaide Salon’s influence is already spreading across the UK and Europe. Recently, Pascal and Paulina collaborated with renowned gallerist Maureen Paley at her Sussex gallery Morena Di Luna. More collaborations are in the pipeline, with invitations to bring the Salon to London and European venues.
“Collaborations are key,” Pascal says. *“The event with Maureen Paley was inspiring, and we are preparing another secret Salon in a very special place, to be announced soon.”
Brighton and Hove’s Cultural Renaissance
The location of The Adelaide Salon in Brighton and Hove feels fitting. Sussex has a deep history of artistic experimentation, from the flamboyant Royal Pavilion of the Prince Regent to Charleston House, country home of the Bloomsbury Group. Brighton’s annual Open House season and Glyndebourne Opera continue this legacy.
“This part of Sussex has always embraced progressive philosophy and the arts,” the founders explain. “Our re-invention of the salon reflects that spirit–progressive, artistic, revolutionary, and flamboyant. A new cultural web is being woven here, and we’re proud The Adelaide Salon is part of this Renaissance.”
Why The Adelaide Salon Matters for the 21st Century Art Scene
In an age defined by digital overload, commodified culture, and an often exclusionary art world, The Adelaide Salon offers something rare: authenticity. It is both a revival of Enlightenment-era gatherings and a reinvention of how art can exist today–immersive, participatory, and radically inclusive.
For the Brighton art scene, it represents a new chapter in the city’s cultural story. For the wider art world, it signals a shift away from exclusivity and toward community-driven, alternative gallery models that emphasize dialogue and human connection.
The Adelaide Salon is not just another venue. It is a movement, a reminder that art is not a luxury, but a lifeline–especially in turbulent times. The flickering flame lit by Dowers and Anzorge with their reinvention of the Salon steadily spreads, and their 21st century salon looks set to be an influential force shaping how we experience creativity in the years ahead.
Find out more about The Adelaide Salon here.