Creative Venue Technician Apprenticeship

Kim Byford, Project Director for Talent Accelerator at DLWP has been working with the East Sussex College Group to look at ways to support young people into the Creative Industries across the region.

The forefront of this has been a focus on how we support our live venues to find and train young people to fill their technical roles, which has been a struggle across the industry.  To respond to this, we are looking at ways to work together to deliver a Creative Venue Technician Apprenticeship using the expertise of the brilliant technical team here at the De La Warr Pavilion. This programme will grow technical staff members who will be fully trained for the venue they are working in and able to move our venues forward.

The next step is to find more venues across the county who would be interested in having an apprentice join their team. Are you a creative venue, does this apprentice programme sound of interest to you?  If so, and you’d like to have a chat about having an Creative Venue Technician Apprentice in your team then please contact Kim Byford kim.byford@dlwp.com

 

POEM: SWALLOW THE POISON BY RACHEL MARSH

My name is Rachel Marsh, I’m a Gallery Assistant here at the De La Warr Pavilion, and I write fiction and poetry. I enjoy writing poems inspired by the exhibitions here, and I have written one inspired by my favourite artwork in the Zineb Sedira exhibition, which is the lightboxes. This piece is called Shattered Carcasses and Architecture of the Forsaken, and these photographs were taken in Nouadhibou, Mauritania.

I love this piece because the photographs are beautiful, and on a gloomy day or when it gets dark, they really glow and stand out in the gallery. The lightboxes echo the shape of the wrecks, and the wires on the floor look like the tangled ropes and nets we see in the photographs.

Yet even though the photographs are beautiful, they tell a sad story. Hundreds of boats have been left to rot here, and toxic chemicals seep from them into the sea, as well as the netting, which is disastrous for marine life. Yet even though this is a tragic situation, from the research I did there is a glimmer of hope because it has provided jobs in salvaging and nature is good at recovering so actually there are new ecosystems, birds, and fish that have adapted or are adapting to this, so that ‘glimmer of hope’, I wanted to add that in my poem as well.

But there is another dark side to this place. Nouadhibou is a popular destination for migrants to leave because it’s become too difficult to travel from other countries in North Africa. Leaving Nouadhibou to try and reach the Canary Islands is an incredibly dangerous route to go.

The title of my poem is called Swallow the Poison, and this title has two meanings. Firstly, in the literal sense of the toxic waste produced by these shipwrecks, but it is also meant as a metaphor. It’s almost like something written in a fairytale, like the poisoned apple in Snow White. For example, migrants who are tempted by and fed this ‘poison’ by people-smuggling gangs who take their life savings and promise them a glittering future. They assure them that there is no or little danger in making these perilous journeys via the sea or hidden in the back of trucks. Of course, that isn’t the case all the time, but it can be, and we’ve seen enough examples in the news of where these kinds of tragic events have occurred.

My poem is written in couplets, but I wanted the top line to be consistently shorter than the lower line. This gives the poem a shape, so the couplets themselves take the form of boats, echoing the meaning and subject of the poem.


SWALLOW THE POISON

 

Seawater laps the ships,

tastes the red rust and swallows the poison down.

 

White crumbling walls, a cloudless sky.

A gold and blue cemetery, where hundreds of boats go to die.

 

Flaking paint, oil and toxic waste.

The recipe produces a bitter, burning, acrid taste.

 

Silt and sand topped with treacle tar.

The vessels fall silent showing their fatal, final scars.

 

Sunlight glitters across the waves.

The sea accepts the corpses to their watery graves.

 

Lumps of metal, twisted chains.

The letters start to fade in the corroded remains.

 

Fraying ropes and shards of glass.

Decorate the dunes, wild flowers and grass.

 

Tangled wire and lime green nets.

Failed journeys, corruption, environmental regrets.

 

Yet a glimmer of hope in the graveyard cove.

A salvaging industry, new habitats, ecosystems grow.

 

But the boats now notice other people leave.

Preparing tiny crafts for a voyage across the open sea.

 

Unable to move from their shoreline graves,

they watch them depart, souls they are unable to save.

 

Open mouthed portholes gape,

as families full of hopes and dreams make their escape.

 

Passing the ships in the graveyard town,

they smile, pay the money and swallow the poison down.


Listen to a reading of the poem from Rachel here:

Work Experience at DLWP, a blog by Liliana Kuprowska

Earlier this year, 15 year old Liliana from St Richards School sent us a very impressive application asking for work experience at DLWP – and we were happy to accept her. We didn’t know until halfway through the week that she is the daughter of Bart, a member of our amazing kitchen team! The Pavilion is all about people and we love that this family is part of our team. Liliana had a great time here and her perspective was really useful to us.

Read all about her work experience in this blog she created, detailing her week at the Pavilion:


I am Liliana Kuprowska, a Year 10 at St. Richard’s Catholic College partaking in my work experience at the De La Warr Pavilion from the 20th – 24th of June. I undertake Art, Craft and Design as my creative GCSE pathway and that alone has drawn me closer to the amazing artistic experiences of the De La Warr. I have always adored the De La Warr and must have been to multiple events held here. I have been to see The Pixies; an Amy Winehouse cover all orchestrated by Bexhill College students. Not too long ago, I also came to see Warpaint and Low Hum which were incredible. Another great event was the Big Sing where I got to watch my little brother perform on stage and even some of my classmates.

There were multiple factors that drew me towards carrying out my work experience at the De La Warr , one of the biggest factors it  being located on the beautiful Southeast coast. The beach has always been like a second home to me. The Pavilion is more than just a building to me, it is a place of amazing architecture and passion. Art and beauty. Over the years, living in Bexhill, I have many multiple amazing memories here which will stay with me forever.

Today is my first day of work experience and I hope to update this blog every day. So far, I have been given an amazing tour and have been shown all the exciting backstage bits and even gave my input in an office meeting. Luke, the DLWP Marketing Assistant, showed me how to design the electronic posters, then download them on the so called ‘sticks’, (USBs), plug them into the multiple TVs around the building and then test if they are working. Currently, I am working on helping promote the Pavilion via researching different hashtags that could increase their publicity.

It is currently 10.11am on a Tuesday, I have just settled down, logged in, checked my emails, and replied to them etc…. I am very happy because it turns out that the research I did on hashtags came of great help! I wonder what I will be doing today!
I am back at 12:18pm, so far today I have gone with João and have looked at the architectural display which is extremely inspiring. We also took a look at the art display upstairs and João explained more to me about what their responsibilities are as an Assistant Curator. Currently, I am watching talks given at the DLWP about art and am noting down which 30 second clips they should post on social media. I must admit, Bassam Al Sabah’s is not like anything I had seen before, I love it! Truly amazing!

Liliana pictured with her dad, Bart.

On Wednesday I was able to be very creative and I made a bunch of very cool and colourful labels for the art stock inventory. It was a very calm atmosphere, and I even made a label for the straws box, out of straws! Later, I got to work behind the till in the Box Office. I have never in my life used a till before, but I learnt how to and then I served a bunch of customers all by myself! I learnt how to add discounts and pay contactless.

It is currently Thursday and all morning I have been filming a vlog for the De La Warr to put on their social media which is very exciting I must say. I have been going all around the building revisiting the places where I worked. I also had some lovely conversations with the gallery’s invigilators and all about the different exhibitions. Next, I am going to be painting a banner for the DLWP Learning Space with the help of Miguel, Learning and Participation Assistant (Young People and Schools).

I am back from painting the banner and I have to say it is coming along quite nicely. I have been using the DLWP summer colours for the letters. I am going to come in early tomorrow and finish off my banner.

It’s Friday! My last day of Work Experience. I came in early to finish off my banner and I have not finished it yet, but I am getting there. Today I am excited because I am working with the Front of House. Front of House oversees all the technical bits for the gigs/shows/events. So far today, I have been stapling booklets for all the staff members for the Jah Shaka events tomorrow. It is just a booklet with safety information, etc… After this I went with Heather, a Front of House member and we folded the DLWP staff t-shirts. Best part is, I even got to take one! After I finish writing this blog, I will go help the Front of House team a little more and then go finish my banner.

And that is work experience all done! Thank you so much everyone for giving me this truly amazing opportunity! Thank you, Dee, for coordinating this all. I have learnt so much this week about the world of work, while having fun and being very creative and taking leadership. I can tell this is just the beginning to a very artistic life.


Liliana also put together an exciting vlog that showcases some of the things she got up to:

 

Read more about Work Experience and other opportunities we offer schools here and our place as a Cornerstone Employer here.

Read more about our work with young people and The Blueprint Collective  here.

The reawakening of the Coastal Culture Trail

As the weather grows warmer and the days grow longer, one thing is for sure; spring has arrived. The season is synonymous with new life and transition, and along the Coastal Culture Trail, this is represented in its own spectacular way.

 

While flowers bloom in the countryside, beach huts emerge along the coast, with pop-up food vendors and ice cream vans littered in-between, giving the trail a fresh, vibrant coat of paint. Coupled with the change in weather, the re-awakening of the trail presents the perfect opportunity to travel by bike, something which I am fortunate enough to do on my commute to work. Gone are the days of battling the harsh winter winds, now I’m met with a comforting spring breeze gently guiding me along the seafront.

Being based in Hastings, it’s easy to identify and follow a clear route that covers the whole trail. By using the three galleries as checkpoints, I can measure my progress and take a moment to relax and embrace their offerings, soaking in powerful pieces of art from artists around the world. Starting from Hastings Contemporary, the route to the next stop, the De La Warr Pavilion, is a simple straight path, spanning nearly six miles of land, seemingly tailor-made for cyclists and walkers alike. The route is flooded with temptation, with the aroma of incredible food from local eateries hanging in the air, while gallery posters boast their busy summer schedules, it’s almost impossible not to veer off the beaten track and explore. That’s the incredible thing though, the beauty of the trail doesn’t end with the coastline, each town has plenty of twists and turns that lead to hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered.

Arriving in Bexhill, the centrepiece of the Coastal Culture Trail, I’m able to lock up my bike at the De La Warr Pavilion, and pop in to visit the record store, hunting down another vinyl to add to my collection. After this, I chose to explore the winding high streets of the town. I’ve never experienced a town quite like Bexhill, which is filled with independent shops and teeming with life. After wrestling with the urge to stop at one of the many cafés for a sweet treat, I retrieve my bike and decide to extend my journey by taking advantage of the trail’s linked railway service. This allows me to complete that final stretch of the trip in a more laid-back fashion, enjoying the beauty of the trail and its surrounding areas while the train carries me towards my destination.

Upon arrival in Eastbourne, you’re met with a completely different town right as you exit the train station. Much larger in scale, featuring an impressive shopping centre filled with recognizable high-street names as well as independent businesses and branching roads that guide you towards the seafront, populated by cafés and other eateries. Eastbourne greets you with many different options, so I’ll be sure to return to explore the things I missed. I opted to head towards the seafront for the opportunity to cycle alongside the warm blue sea once more. Of course I couldn’t miss out on the chance to check out the marvellously presented Towner Gallery, made up of vibrant colours and sporting a unique flair.  Despite my lack of familiarity with Eastbourne, it was simple to navigate, and as a result of my seaside upbringing, it delivered a sense of comfort and familiarity, combined with the joy of exploring somewhere new.

 

Even as the day moved on, my appetite for exploration remained, urging me to continue, so I decided to check out one of the six new Sussex Modern exhibitions by Nathan Coley. These are illuminated text sculptures dotted around Sussex, featuring thought-provoking quotes that encourage self-reflection as well as observation of the world around us. Luckily, one of these sculptures is situated right along the trail, at the Junction Road Car Park in Eastbourne. Finding it was an experience in itself, as my stubbornness prevented me from using a map initially, causing me to take a series of wrong turns, ending up further away from it than where I had originally started from. Eventually, I conceded defeat and installed Google Maps, which guided me to the exhibition. Upon arrival, I was shocked that I even missed it in the first place, as right at the top of the car park stood the words “We must cultivate our garden,” in bold lettering. This was only my first taste of the exhibition, but I knew that it wouldn’t be my last. With five more pieces to discover, I have no doubt in my mind that it won’t be long before I’m back on the train on my next adventure.

Photo by Keith Hunter

 

If you haven’t yet visited the Coastal Culture Trail, right now is the perfect time to introduce yourself. As the three towns along the trail emerge from their winter slumber, ushering in our first relatively normal summer in a long time, there is plenty to enjoy, whether you are travelling for a day or for a longer period. Whatever you do this year, don’t pass up on this experience, because I promise you, you can’t find it anywhere else.

 

Find out more about the Coastal Culture Trail here and follow them on social media to keep up to date with everything going on in and around the trail.

 

Twitter: CoastalCultureT

Instagram: Coastal_Culture_Trail

Facebook: Coastal Culture Trail

 

Interested in the Sussex Modern exhibition by Nathan Coley? Discover where each piece is located on their website here.

 

Blog by Luke Furminger

 

 

 

Bob Marley played DLWP in 1972, were you there?

 

This year marks the 50th anniversary since Bob Marley performed at the De La Warr Pavilion, and we want to know, were you there?

The concert which took place in July 1972, was the year Marley signed with CBS Records and embarked on a UK tour supporting singer Johnny Nash.  The performance at De La Warr Pavilion was one of the first ever appearances that Marley made in the UK, and the concert was presented in conjunction with Bexhill Lions and was in aid of Glyne Gap School.

As we prepare to mark this milestone, we want to know – were you there? We want to hear from anyone who attended the gig or knew someone who did.

Do you, or anyone you know, have an original ticket, poster, or memorabilia of any kind related to the event? Then we’d like to hear from you – contact us on: rsvp@dlwp.com

 

Find out more about the outdoor festival at DLWP marking the 50th anniversary of Bob Marley playing in Bexhill on the 16th July here.

Beyond Imagination and Limits

An inclusive and accessible gig celebrating togetherness after the tough lockdowns.

Sam Ayre is an artist based in Hastings, specialising in participatory projects with groups of people. He makes drawings, paintings, performances and things happen with groups of people. He has worked with De La Warr Pavilion on many projects including designing the Follow Your Nose app which can be used to explore the current exhibitions. We spoke to Sam about his latest project at the De La Warr which culminates in a event held in the auditorium this May.  Here’s what Sam had to say:

Through explorative conversations over cups of tea and lively hands-on making to a soundtrack of Electric Fire, Guns and Roses and Imagine Dragons a great event is being planned. Participants have considered what a great party looks like; ‘dancing!’ ‘good music’ ‘make everybody feel welcome’ ‘strong voices’ ‘space to be myself’, what considerations there should be in place to cater for everyone’s needs; ‘not too early and not too late’ ‘I know where it is happening in the building’ ‘there’s space for me to move around’ ‘clear information about when the bands are on so I know’ ‘that I can bring my family’ ‘my carer should come for free’ and how to soften and liven up the Pavilions impressive auditorium ready for the gig.

The event has been named, ‘Beyond Imagination and Limits’, with flyers, tickets, decorations, information and playlist currently under construction. Large brightly coloured banners, with positive, welcoming slogans, drawings and patterns adorned across them have been designed and will be hung on the walls, with colours inspired by the Lucy Stein exhibition. Alongside consideration for the auditorium space where live bands and loud music will be playing, there has been consideration for for the need for quiet spaces as part of the event, so it was decided that the Lucy Stein exhibition will be open for people to visit on the night. Everything is shaping up to be a really great party, a ‘great gig, a great get together for all to celebrate!

Thanks to funding from The Childwick Trust, Artist Richard Phoenix, with support from artist Sam Arye, is undertaking a series of weekly creative workshops at DLWP for up to 25 adults with learning disabilities and their carers from the Parchment Trust over the course of seven weeks. The workshops are multidisciplinary focusing on visual arts and music, with guest educators such as musicians from Delta7 band and Head Technician at DLWP, Technical Manager Mathew Mcquade.

Excitingly this series of workshops culminates with an inclusive and accessible gig at the DLWP in the main auditorium on Wednesday 25th May. Celebrating togetherness after the tough lockdowns, the gig has a current working title formed by the participants of ‘Beyond Imagination & Limits’. Artwork made in the workshops will decorate the venue and music/playlists created will be showcased.  Participants in the workshops will all undertake different roles both in preparation and on the night, such as MC’ing etc. The gig will be open to all, with specific focus on welcoming those with learning or physical disabilities and their carers from the local area. Bands playing will include ‘Delta7’ a local rock band made up of seven people who all have learning disabilities. For some participants this will be their first ever gig to attend.

Heart and Soul is a creative arts company and charity will support us in promotion and running of the gig. Organisations who will bring their members and are very excited, include The Parchment Trust, New Horizons, Project Arts Works, and Tinkers Hatch.

Find out more about Beyond Imagination and Limits, and book your tickets here.

We’re Hiring: Project Manager, Talent Accelerator

We are seeking a full time Project Manager to manage the 24-month Talent Accelerator programme. The Project Manager will review and rescope a programme of work originally written in 2020,  producing a revised delivery framework with the funders and stakeholders for delivery in line with the new academic year in September 2022. The Project Manager will then lead and deliver the programme, co-ordinating and joining up multiple workstreams to deliver a holistic approach, making sure all objectives and outcomes are met.

Talent Accelerator is a new programme which aims to get young people across East Sussex interested in and working within the Creative Industries. It seeks to create a joined-up infrastructure between industry and education and a unique framework to enable education settings and creative industry employers to co-design new learning and real-world skills programmes. It will offer particular support to those from areas of high deprivation, rurally-isolated locations and under-represented backgrounds to make sure everyone across the region is reaching their potential and has access to the same opportunities

The programme will help our young people:

  • understand the different types of companies and organisations in the creative, cultural and digital sectors and the range of roles and opportunities on offer.
  • increase their creativity, identify the skills needed for those roles and support them to develop and add to their own skillset.
  • give them valuable experience working alongside creative people in vibrant and exciting places and spaces
  • prepare them take advantage of the growing creative, cultural, and digital employment opportunities East Sussex has to offer – or even create their own.

Download full Job Description here.

Deadline for applications: Monday 4 April, 2022, 9am

Start from: May 2022

How to apply:  Please send a CV, Equal Opportunities form here and a covering letter to jobs@dlwp.com

Fundraising for Ukraine

Dominika Hicks is based in Bexhill and has a strong connection to the De La Warr Pavilion, working here for many years.  We caught up with Dom yesterday where she told us about her recent trip to her hometown in Poland, where they are accepting over 100 children from Ukrainian orphanages, and over 100 women and children, and what she is doing to help. Here’s what Dom told us:

“I’m Polish and Poland is currently accepting hundred thousands of refugees from Ukraine. My hometown in Poland is taking over 100 children from Ukrainian orphanage and over 100 women and children, and I want to help.

The war in Ukraine has really affected me. Until the last minute, I did not think that Russia would actually attack the country. I kept in touch with my sister in Poland who works with many Ukrainian people and they did not believe that this would happen. So when Russia attacked Ukraine I was shocked, angry and very sad to the point that I was struggling to deal with it. After hearing that my town accepted a group of 76 children from a Ukrainian orphanage and after talking to my friends in Poland, I decided that I need to do something to help. 

I decided to set up a GoFundMe page to raise £500 which could buy toys to make them feel like home. I did not expect that the response would be so amazing and I have now raised over £7000. I travelled to Poland on Thursday 10 March to find out what was happening, what else I can do and what is the best way to spend the money I raised. Apart from the Ukrainian orphans, the town has accepted over 500 refugees, mainly women and children who are staying in local hotels, guest houses, with private families and over 100 people (women and children) are staying in a local sports hall which is now their home. 

I went to visit them after meeting with the Mayor Piotr Lewandowski. I met volunteers who are helping and women and children from Ukraine who are now staying in the hall. 

We discussed the best way to help and apart from donating money, I have also bought medicines, food and a washing machine. I am now paying for more supplies and have transferred money which will be used for specific help like teachers, psychologists and carers. Some of the children from the orphanage are disabled and they will need more support. Children will also start school and I will buy supplies needed. The money will also help refugees staying locally, refugees still arriving and will help to buy supplies for people still in Ukraine. 

I am hoping to go back soon to see what else can be done. We are a population of 4000 people with 500 refugees, ready to accept up to 900.

My GoFundMe page will keep going for as long as it is needed and you can support me by donating or by sharing with others. Thank you”

Watch Dominika being interviewed by BBC South Today from the De La Warr Pavilion here.

Donate to the GoFundMe page here.

Dominika and Mayor Piotr Lewandowski

A SPOTLIGHT ON: PERSEPHONE HOLDING A POMEGRANATE SEED

by Sandy Jones

‘I’ve always painted women, and to some extent female beauty…Like a lot of female painters, I’ve tried to suggest a “female gaze”, often by giving agency to the muse…’ Lucy Stein

One of the central female figures in our new exhibition, Wet Room, by Cornwall based artist Lucy Stein, is the Greek goddess Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and goddess of springtime. Depicted on hand-painted tiles and positioned on a pillar looking out to the sea, the work ‘Persephone Holding a Pomegranate Seed’ was created especially for the exhibition and shines a light on a little-known aspect of DLWP’s heritage.

The original design of the Pavilion included a 26ft high sculpture of Persephone by artist Frank Dobson (1886-1963) that was intended to stand gazing across the sea to Beachy Head. Dobson, is known as one of the outstanding figures in modern British sculpture, and was Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art from 1946-1953. His style was influenced by artists such as Aristide Maillol (1861-1944), who redefined the classical tradition in Western sculpture with his allegorical and archetypal large-scale representations of the female form. Dobson was one of 30 artists commissioned to contribute sculpture by the organising committee of the Festival of Britain (1951). His sculpture of two nudes, titled ‘London Pride’, is positioned outside the National Theatre on London’s South Bank.[1]

Dobson was among several artists who were invited to submit their proposals for a ‘focal point’ on DLWP’s south lawn, including John Skeeping, Maurice Lambert, Jacob Epstein, Eric Gill and Henry Moore. Entries were judged by Professor William Constable, the first director of the Courtauld Institute of Art. A budget of £500 was allocated to cover the cost of the statue which subsequently escalated to £1,000 (around £75.5k today).

Following an outburst of opposition to the design and cost of the statue, the Council in Committee made the decision to defer its construction until the building and landscaping were completed in December 1935, to ‘get a better perspective of what was necessary there, if anything.’[2] Sadly, the commission never materialised, although Dobson’s maquette of Persphone was exhibited at the DLWP in the upper lecture hall (now the First floor gallery) in 1935. Today, the National Museum and Art Gallery of Wales hold a 64.3cm terracotta study of Dobson’s Persephone in their collection.

You can see what Persephone would have looked like at DLWP by visiting the original schematic model on display at Bexhill Museum. If you look closely, you’ll notice that two further elements of Serge Chermayeff and Erich Mendelsohn’s scheme did not materialise: the swimming pool at the Colonnade, reflecting the lido culture of the 1930s; and the redesign of the Colonnade and linking pergola.

Stein’s powerful depiction draws upon this unfulfilled commission of Persephone, evoking the genius loci or spirit of the Pavilion’s meeting point between land and water; and conjuring and reconstructing the memory of Dobson’s sculpture in the present.

Lucy Stein’s Wet Room is on display until 2 May 2022.

Our galleries are open between 10am and 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday.

[1] https://frankdobsonartist.com/timeline/
[2] ‘Councillor Neale and the Statue,’ Bexhill Observer, Saturday, October 5, 1935.
Images:
Lucy Stein. ‘Persephone holding a pomegranate seed.’ (2021) Hand painted tiles. Photo: Rob Harris.
Model of DLWP with Persephone statue. Photo: Bexhill Museum.