Today's idea - Spring Exhibition

Following on from last year's first Spring Exhibition which was a big success, Brighton and Hove Arts Council presents this year's Exhibition takes place today with contributions from five art groups around town. Opening today, the exhibition will feature oil paintings, watercolours, sculpture and mixed media, showcasing from art societies: Dupont Art Club at Hove, In it for Life, Society of Catholic Artists (Sussex), Society of Sussex Painters and South Downs Art Society. "Work will also be for sale at reasonable prices."

It's taking place in the Brighton Friends' Meeting house, a nice building from 1805 with some lovely gardens that's about two minutes from the seaside - usefully accessible and not too far too walk out of your way. Running until the 24th April (Saturday). It's running 10am-5pm weekdays, and 10am-4pm on Saturday.

Go to the Christmas Fair Trade Market

Today, what is normally the Friends meeting house in the South Lanes is being opened out into a giant craft fair. An eclectic mix 30 local artists and crafty-types bring jewellery, textiles, hand dyed knitted clothes, mixed media, photography, silk scarves, painting and ceramics to this "extremely popular" event (in which case we advise getting there earlier to grab the best bits). We don't know too much about this, but in the last week before Christmas it sounds like a damn good place to find bits and bobs, and presents for Mothers. If you want a present that represents Brighton, this sounds like a good place to investigate - and it's also fairtrade, which we like.

Entry is free, and there's a Christmassy cafe for Dads, boyfriends, and people that don't like shopping perhaps as much as you do. Find the meeting house on Ship Street in the South Lanes - with a map here.