The De La Warr Pavilion is delighted to announce CREATIVE SIDLEY – a 3-year youth and community-led project funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation under their Creative, Confident Communities work.
Inspired by almost a decade of working with and listening to young people and families in Sidley, the Creative Sidley Project centres on young people becoming leaders, designing and implementing a creative programme with artists and taking ownership of their community’s creative future. It is based on consultation with Sidley’s young people who wish to improve their environment and make Sidley a better place to live.
Heart of Sidley and the De La Warr Pavilion are partners in Rother District Council’s £19 million Levelling Up Award for community, creativity and skills in Bexhill. £2m of this will fund the new Community Hub in Sidley Recreation Ground and provide increased opportunities for residents to develop their skills and access education and employment.
The Creative Sidley Project brings together key partners in Sidley who share the De La Warr Pavilion’s vision that creativity and skills can transform a community and work to support young people. It will bring artists on to Sidley High Street and into community spaces to co-curate, with young people, creative programmes and activities.
The partners are Heart of Sidley, The Pelham, The Sara Lee Trust, Earls Mercantile Café, Beeching Road Studios, Talent Accelerator and 18 Hours Events. These Partners will work with us in their existing spaces to accommodate creative activities before the new Sidley Community Hub becomes operational.
Stewart Drew, CEO of the De La Warr Pavilion said:
We are thrilled to announce this investment in Sidley, thanks to Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. Sidley is full of amazing people who want to help create a better future for their young people and we are privileged to be working with them. The goal will be to create a dynamic, youth-led creative programme in the new Community Hub, re-inforcing our relationship with Heart of Sidley and our commitment to improving the opportunities of young people in our area.
Jay Carroll, Chair of Heart of Sidley Partnership, said:
We are extremely proud of our strong links with the Pavilion which, over a number of years have been so beneficial for Sidley and wider community. This investment in Sidley’s young people will feed into Levelling Up ambitions for the new Community Hub, enabling local Sidley residents to gain
access to creative and aspirational opportunities. We are very excited to be part of this new partnership and the future of our young people. For further information on our Levelling Up Award see https://www.dlwp.com/luf/
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De La Warr Pavilion
The De La Warr Pavilion (DLWP) is a centre for arts and culture in an iconic modernist building by the sea, designed by refugee Erich Mendelsohn and émigré Serge Chermayeff. It opened in 1935 as the ‘people’s palace for art and culture’ and now produces an innovative and integrated cultural programme of exhibitions and learning programmes as well as a diverse and popular programme of live music and comedy.
The Pavilion takes the lead in the development of cultural tourism and skills in the region and plays a central role in the cultural and economic growth in Sussex. For more information visit www.dlwp.com
Heart of Sidley (Big Local)
Heart of Sidley is a Big Local area. 10 years ago, they were awarded £1milllion by Local Trust to make a massive and lasting positive difference to the Sidley community. The Heart of Sidley started to use its funding in 2014 and is due to finish in 2025. The idea behind the Big Local is about bringing together all the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live.
Heart of Sidley is a community-led partnership, led entirely by local residents, in partnership with local organisations, businesses and others. They’re supported by a Big Local representative and two locally trusted organisations – Rother Voluntary Action and Southern Housing.
As they prepare their charity, Heart of Sidley Community Association, for the exciting future ahead, they continue to work towards the community’s priorities. They have a very proactive and driven group of people on board, who are all part of the Sidley community themselves. They ensure voices are heard and action is taken in their commitment to improving the area and opportunities for local people. For more information visit https://heartofsidley.co.uk/
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. We unlock change by contributing everything we can alongside people and organisations with brilliant ideas who share our goals.
The Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK. In 2023, we provided £58.4m in funding towards a wide range of work in support of our aims. This includes additional funding to organisations we fund in response to the rising cost of living. We also provide social and impact investment for organisations with the aim of creating social and environmental impact. www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk