Expressions of interest are being sought for proposals or ideas as to how to create a lasting legacy to mark the lives of people from the city lost to or suffering from Aids/HIV.
The Aids Memorial Project was launched at a public meeting on World Aids Day 2006, and has the aim of creating a lasting memorial within the city to mark the lives of those lost or who are suffering from Aids/HIV.
It additionally seeks to raise awareness and improve education of the public.
Fundraising for a permanent memorial has to date raised £17,236.33.
The project team would like to warmly thank and acknowledge the numerous supporters of the fundraising, including Charles Street, Paul Kemp, the Hub, the Queens Arms, the Marine Tavern, Colin Fry, Nick Head, Brighton Cares and Gscene magazine.

Four patrons were announced at the meeting to oversee the launch of the project in December 2006.
These are former leader of the council, Simon Burgess; Cllr Bill Randall; leader of the council, Brian Oxley; and Cllr Paul Elgood.
Former mayoress Sheila Levenson was appointed treasurer.
A working group will be chaired by Simon Burgess to deal with shortlisting ideas and consultation issues.
A full public ballot will then take place in the autumn on the final proposals chosen by the working group.
Interested parties should detail their proposal (including, if relevant, diagrams, locations etc) and provide full financial information of project costs and detail and, if relevant, how the project will be managed.

The aim of the project is to provide a permanent memorial or legacy in the city.
However, to encourage a wide range of ideas to come forward, the organisers have avoided defining this too closely.
The successful proposal would be subject to any final public consultation and discussions with relevant bodies (eg planning considerations), in terms of delivering the project.
Simon Burgess said: "We are delighted to move the project through to the next stage, where proposals can be made as how best to create a lasting legacy in the city.
We have purposely not been prescriptive on what we want to see come forward, but are seeking a wide range of ideas and proposals."

Paul Elgood said: "We would like to express our gratitude to the numerous people and groups who have given generously to the fundraising.
What is really exciting is that it will be the community who will decide how the money raised is spent and the shape the project takes.
We listened to the original discussions concerning how the project should take shape and we felt that the best route was to be as open as possible to different kinds of proposals.
All ideas and suggestions are possible and are very much encouraged."

Leader of the council Brian Oxley said: "It's fitting that a city with a large LGBT community has such a memorial.
While nothing can bring back those lost friends and family members, a memorial would help keep alive everyone's awareness of the human cost of Aids and in that way will hopefully speed the search for a cure."

Expressions of interest by August 15, 2007,
c/o Cllr Paul Elgood,
Kings House,
Grand Avenue,
Hove,
BN3 2LS,
email: paul.elgood@brighton-hove.gov.uk