Partnership with Sussex Arts Academy

Creatives Across Sussex announces a partnership with the Sussex Arts Academy

Creatives Across Sussex (CAS) is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting partnership with a new charity in our area – The Sussex Arts Academy. The Sussex Arts Academy is dedicated to expanding access to arts and cultural education to children and young people in our schools and colleges and to offering opportunities for members of the CAS website to be involved.

"The Sussex Arts Academy (SAA) is a registered charity which aims to provide easier access to the very best in arts and cultural education for the benefit of all children and young people in schools and colleges across West Sussex.

This will be achieved by connecting schools and colleges with enrichment programmes offered by lead practitioners and arts/cultural education providers, by facilitating access to venues, and by supporting showcase events. A bursary fund will be set up by the SAA to support those who would otherwise have difficulty in accessing these services."

The partnership falls into three core areas:

1. Support and cross-promotion

To help meet the aims and objectives of both organisations such as:

A) SAA’s aim to improve access to learning opportunities across the broadest range of the arts and culture for children and young people in the area
B) CAS’s aim to act as an enabler and advocate for the work of artists, producers and companies by:
• increasing the potential for CAS members to deliver income generating workshops, activities, tuition via schools and colleges
• identifying new opportunities for CAS members, for example to support teachers’ continuing professional development through contributing to courses, workshops, etc.

2. Consultation

To help us all understand the existing relationship between CAS members, schools and colleges, how you would like to see this develop, and what tools and information you believe are needed to make this happen.

In the first instance we have set up a brief online survey – this is accessible via our website by visiting the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sussexartsacademy

So that you can benefit from CAS and SAA’s new partnership as much as possible, please complete the survey by Friday 17th October.

This will be followed by opportunities to attend a focus group discussion, the details of which we will announce in the near future.

3. Showcase Events

To invite CAS members to participate in FREE events designed to show educators in schools and colleges what you have to offer children and young people in terms of arts and cultural education, be it group or individual tuition, introductory through to advanced level.

The inaugural event is to be held on Thursday 6th November at the Minerva Lounge, Chichester Festival Theatre from 10am – 2pm

Members are invited to book a table to demonstrate their offer (existing or potential) to teachers and explore interest and demand.

The event will include introductions from SAA and other partners, an opportunity for you to talk to educators individually or in groups, feedback and group discussion sessions and networking over buffet lunch.

We are keen to encourage a wide range of arts and cultural activity to be represented including: drawing and painting, sculpture and mosaic, collage and textiles to writing and acting, photography and film, graphic and web based design plus the technical professions that support artists – directing, lighting and sound engineering and IT/management.

If you have never done anything like this before but you are interested in exploring options, this event is also for you. Please email tracey-richardson@ampersand-ltd.co.uk to express an interest in taking a space providing a brief explanation of your offer, or your potential offer.

James Shea, Business Director for Creatives Across Sussex said “As a strategic facilitator; supporting the development of opportunities for artist and arts companies, CAS regards this new partnership with SAA as key both to addressing the needs of the creative sector in capitalising on new opportunities and in encouraging lifelong participation in the arts”.

David Sword, Operations Manager of Sussex Arts Academy said, "The Sussex Arts Academy is delighted at the prospect of forging a partnership with CAS which could bring new opportunities for young people to participate in the arts, and for arts providers to extend their reach into schools and colleges".