Brighton-based ARKA Original Funerals are kindly sponsoring ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES, a public artwork exploring birth, death, and the journey in between by artists YARA + DAVINA.
Led by Founder and Funeral Director Cara Mair, ARKA Original Funerals adopt a personal and gentle approach to their services, describing themselves as “people first and funeral directors second.”
We have a quick chat with Cara Mair about the theme of care and what it means to be a part of Brighton Festival this year.
As the theme of this year’s festival is care, how does ARKA Original Funerals help to care for the city and the Brighton community?
Caring for the dead can seem underrated in this modern world but we see this role as a great honour. Our hope is to support families to create meaningful, thoughtful ceremonies that don’t cost the earth and if they wish we support them in gently caring for their own.
What is so special about having your business located in Brighton & Hove?
We are proud to be very much part of the Brighton and Hove Community and have been welcomed into its wonderful diversity since we opened back in 2003.
What event are you sponsoring in Brighton Festival and what’s your involvement?
We are proudly sponsoring ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES by artists YARA + DAVINA. Also, on Thu 6 May, I will be joining Emma Curtis (Funeral Celebrant and Grief & Resilience Therapist) and Davina Drummond (creator of ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES) for an online discussion called Redefining Grief.
Why did you decide to get involved in the Festival and what do you enjoy most about it?
We always love getting involved with the festival, what is there not to love about it!
What are you hoping people will enjoy most about ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES?
It’s great that it is free and open to anyone. To just sit and watch the boards share information will give people a chance to reflect and recognise that we are all impermanent and forever changing. I hope people will get involved online and add the names of loved ones who have arrived and departed on the boards.
