HUGE COMMUNITY PROGRAMME TO COINCIDE WITH TURNER PRIZE 2023 IN EASTBOURNE

An ambitious community programme for East Sussex will coincide with Turner Prize 2023 has been announced, all supported by a £480,000 award through the Arts Council’s Place Partnership Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

The series of shows and events coincides with The Turner Prize coming to Eastbourne this year, and will support the Towner gallery and a range of local partners to make a step change in the provision of cultural and creative opportunity in Eastbourne, particularly for children and young people.

Called Eastbourne ALIVE, the project will seek to empower young people and create a new legacy for Eastbourne through a wide range of projects and creative activities, along with further development of artistic practice and creative skills in the area. It also aims to broaden access to art and culture through inclusive participation in high quality cultural experiences and creative activities in and around Eastbourne. There is also an ambition in the project to widen opportunities for Young People to engage with art and culture both inside and outside school.

“I am delighted to be appointed to this project,” said Sarah Dance, the new Director of Eastbourne ALIVE. “Our ambition is to place the town’s image firmly in the hands of Young People, harnessing their creative energy for years to come.”

Developing pathways towards creative industry careers will also be part of the project. Working with Talent Accelerator, a package of skills development & training opportunities at Towner will open pathways towards careers in the creative industries including events for parents/carers about the sector and ways to support Young People into roles; building the regional talent pipeline to drive economic sustainability.

Joe Hill, Director and CEO Towner Eastbourne, said, “Celebrating the once in a lifetime opportunity of the Turner Prize in Eastbourne, we will work with 3000 young people in their places and spaces throughout the town, to foster pride and ownership of their creative town as well as all years 9 in and around Eastbourne. Our partnership will develop creative skills pathways and our public health colleagues will measure the real impact of this work on young people’s wellbeing.” www.townereastbourne.org.uk

Ceyda Tanc Dance return to Theatre Royal on Tues 16 May 2023, following their sell-out performance of Kaya in 2018.

Kizlar is a brand new, full-length contemporary dance work from Brighton-based, BritishTurkish choreographer Ceyda Tanc. It celebrates what it means to be female, offering an aesthetically driven exploration of femininity and masculinity, strength and vulnerability, to create a visually stunning dance work.

“Kizlar celebrates women and explores what it means to be female in today’s society,” says Tanc. “With my new perspective as a mother to a baby girl, I have been drawing on the experiences of women and girls of diverse ages & ethnicities, in the Brighton community to shape the vision for the work.” www.ceydatancdance.com

Drawing on the virtuoso movements of male Turkish dancers with an all-female company, Ceyda Tanc’s unique vocabulary combines athletic contemporary movement with traditional Turkish folk dance, conveying striking shapes and a strong, sensual energy.