TALENT ACCELERATOR: “A CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS STORY”

DE LA WARR PAVILION WORKS WITH OVER 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE AND EMPLOYERS WITH SKILLS PROGRAMME TALENT ACCELERATOR

A recently published report*, has declared the De La Warr Pavilion’s skills programme “a considerable success story.”

Since 2022, the De La Warr Pavilion’s skills programme, Talent Accelerator, has

• engaged with over 10000 children, young people and employers
• delivered 113 (1500 hours) of work placements across 23 organisations
• delivered work experience and volunteer opportunities around the Turner Prize
• worked with 34 education partners and 56 organisations
• helped 11 schools achieve Artsmark recognition
• held 2 major Jobs and Apprenticeships Fairs

and developed a co-ordinated approach to skills development for young people across East Sussex. This includes working with a variety of cultural organisations, Skills East Sussex, Local Skills Improvement Partnership and schools and colleges.

Led by the De La Warr Pavilion, a Cornerstone Employer for East Sussex Careers Hub, and delivered by DLWP’s Head of Skills, Kim Byford, the programme set out to introduce young people to the creative industries – increasing knowledge, learning and opportunity across East Sussex. It aimed to give young people, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds, an insight into one of the fastest growing industries in the UK (worth £115bn), and employers an opportunity to work and grow local talent, that ensures a thriving creative and cultural sector in the region.

By broadening out and strengthening the collaboration with new and existing partners, Talent Accelerator has created a genuine pipeline of creative and cultural opportunities for individuals from ages 5 to 18 and beyond, supporting a shift towards a sustainable framework as part of the South East Creative Economy Network and meeting central government ambitions:

“We want to put rocket boosters under the creative industries, helping them to create more opportunities in all parts of the country and give people from all communities access to art and culture”  Lisa Nandy UK Secretary of State for  Culture Media and Sport.

Talent Accelerator was supported by Artswork,  Arts Council England, and created in partnership with Skills East Sussex.

Grace, aged 17, from Bexhill said

“Before my work placements, I thought that working in the Creative Arts meant that you were a famous artist and that was the only creative job out there. But after experiencing working in an office environment I’ve realized that there are hundreds of creative jobs. This has really expanded my view on what I can do with my future and what kind of creative career I want to explore.”

In 2023 Talent Accelerator was invited to deliver the skills programmes for Eastbourne Alive (Turner Prize Eastbourne) and worked with all  partners to delivery over 1500 hours of work placements

Stewart Drew, Director and CEO of the De La Warr Pavilion said:

“Talent Accelerator has been the catalyst to kickstart the Pavilion’s ambitions to develop a framework of creativity and skills in the region. It puts young people at the heart of the development of a regional creative economy and builds pathways of opportunity through work experiences, apprenticeships, schools visits, jobs fairs and events. We are delighted to be working closely with Future Creators and Brighton Dome & Festival in the next stage of this work.”

Kim Byford, Programme Director, Talent Accelerator said

“In the past two years I have met so many fantastic young people who, with support, can make a real impact on the local economy.  Whether they move away from the area or stay, we want to make sure that every young person is introduced to the diverse opportunities that working in a creative industries can offer – whether it be backstage, digital, marketing, music promotion, gaming –developing much needed confidence and transferable skills, post pandemic.”

The success of Talent Accelerator has led to a partnership with Future Creators, part of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, to lead the delivery of Coastal Catalyst, a 2-year partnership project supported £900k funding from Arts Council England that will extend the work along a Creative Corridor from Bexhill to Bognor Regis.

* The full Report and more about Talent Accelerator can be downloaded here

More about Coastal Catalyst can be found here

 

Notes

The De La Warr Pavilion : Community, Creativity, Skills

Since 1935, DLWP has been harnessing the transformative power of culture to regenerate place and community. Over the past two decades it has been at the forefront of the skills agenda, working with schools, colleges, strategic partners and community organisations to transform the lives and futures of young people. Alongside arts education and performance opportunities, DLWP runs programmes for young people with complex needs, those experiencing social, emotional or mental health challenges, and from migrant and asylum seeker backgrounds. It provides volunteering and work experience opportunities, champions, through its partnership with Flatland Projects, Beeching Road Studios, Bexhill, early creative careers, and, since 2016, has given young people direct access to jobs and skills development opportunities through hosting and organising the annual Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair.

The success of the project is rooted in the groundwork laid by DLWP Director & CEO Stewart Drew, his team and partners including Team East Sussex, Skills East Sussex, Culture East Sussex, East Sussex Careers Service, Local Skills Improvement Partnership and East Sussex College Group.

 

 

 

Posted by sally on Monday 18 November 2024