Photography: Laura Callahan

Coastal Catalyst is led by Future Creators and Talent Accelerator, with other consortium members including: University of Brighton, Department for Work & Pensions, East Sussex College, Arun District Council and The Royal Society of Arts.

The project will establish new Creativity Hubs in Arun, Eastbourne/Newhaven and Bexhill, plus a satellite hub in East Brighton, and create more opportunities for young people to work in the creative sector, such as new job roles, work experience placements and apprenticeships. Coastal Catalyst seeks to co-create a place-based response to systemic challenges by working with and within local communities.

Future Creators is Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival’s initiative to work collaboratively to develop the creative potential, skills and voice of children and young adults across Sussex. Their ambition is to prove to the world that collective action can nurture the creativity of children and has long term, positive and measurable effects. By understanding local, regional and national context, they work together to shape and co-develop work that responds to need and will make a difference.  

Talent Accelerator is a De La Warr Pavilion programme that supports young people (aged 14 to 25) into creative careers in East Sussex and is the inspiration and cornerstone of the transformational Creativity, Community and Skills capital programme. Talent Accelerator aims to raise understanding of the range of jobs available in the creative industries, develop high quality work experiences, opportunities for skills development and expand what creative businesses and cultural organisations can offer young people. In the first two years (2022 – 2024) 6,468 young people have gone through elements of the Talent Accelerator.

Coastal Catalyst is a Place Partnership project, funded by the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant scheme.

Peter Chivers, Director of Future Creators, part of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, said:

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Talent Accelerator to lead this new programme. The creative industries offer huge opportunities for young people. Coastal Catalyst will unlock this by bringing together businesses, education partners and the creative sector to develop new pathways into employment in the sector. Young people are our future, and developing their creative skills will have long-term, positive and measurable benefits for the region.”

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

“Our commitment to developing the skills that young people need to follow a career in the creative industries is at the heart of our Community, Creativity and Skills capital project and the future of our region. We are delighted that our highly successful Talent Accelerator programme will collaborate with Future Creators to reach more young people to fulfil their individual potential whilst contributing to the economy of Sussex as a whole.”