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Image by Conscious Design

ABOUT US

Evolution is located in Brighton UK, founded on Buddhist principles and rooted in that heritage.

Central to everything we do are the Buddhist principles of:

  • Openness

  • Generosity

  • Creativity

  • Inclusion

OUR STORY

Evolution is a long established and much loved destination for in-person adult daytime and evening courses and weekend workshops in Brighton and Hove.

We offer an exciting and mixed programme of courses and workshops from the “Evolution Hub” in Tichborne Street with some classes (mainly our art offering) taking place at other venues in central Brighton.

There is a strong ‘arts’ theme to most of what we do, however our offer is diverse and experimental, with classes in subject areas including photography, craft, painting, drawing, music, dance, creative writing, massage, mantra and much more.

Back in September 1992 Indrabodhi Shann opened Evolution Arts & Natural Health at Evolution’s old home on Brighton’s Western Road, offering a range of courses across three rooms: a dance studio, art room and therapy centre.

Image by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden
Image by mark tulin

PRESENT DAY

Now, three decades on we are partnered with the Brighton Buddhist Centre. Not only does this partnership help to ensure Evolution has a sustainable future, but as sister organisations with shared values we hope to enrich each other to the benefit of our widened community.


​We are a not-for-profit operation and channel surplus funds back into the business to improve our offer and broaden our reach. Our fees are kept deliberately low and we maintain a concessions policy for almost all our activities. Run on Buddhist principles of honesty and kindness, flexibility and trust are by-words for our customer service approach.

Our courses and workshops are taught by skilled tutors in whom we place trust, share values and attempt to nurture and celebrate. Our tutors are generous, skilled and creative people who have chosen to pass on their expertise and wisdom. Those who join our events represent a broad slice of our community and are a community of people who, like us, realise the importance of taking time out of their ordinary day, to explore the things they love doing.

Our door is always open to offers and proposals for classes or workshops which match our ethos

MEET THE TEAM

Kate O'Brien EVOLUTION ARTS.jpeg

Kate O'Brien
Manager

An ex city lawyer, Kate saw the light a few years ago and discovered her creative side. In charge of Evolution and its tiny team, Kate basically does a bit of everything! Kate also teaches needle felting and is a strong proponent of creativity for personal development, valuing the liberating power of courses like the Artist’s Way. Kate spends most of her time on Buddhist retreats, down at the allotment or making felted creations.

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Sarah Charsley
Admin and Marketing

As well as helping Kate in the office Sarah oversees Evolution’s social media and marketing, helping to spread the Evolution word to the wider community. Passionate about creativity and wellbeing, Sarah spends most of her free time writing, performing on the Brighton theatre and comedy scene and sea-swimming.

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Abhayakirti

In loving memory of Abhayakirti (David Weisz). A practising Buddhist for over 40 years, passionate about the power of communication to heal and ethics in daily life. He lead Evolution’s popular NVC-based course Communicating from The Heart.

FIND US

Evolution is located in Brighton at the Buddhist Centre

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