East Sussex Music to join Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival’s music education service
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival (BDBF) has announced it will manage East Sussex Music (ESM) service and will be lead partner for the East Sussex Music Education Hub. ESM provides music lessons and activities for over 7000 children and young people in East Sussex.
The partnership is part of BDBF’s commitment to deliver music education to children and young people across the county. It brings together the combined work of the arts charity responsible for the historic Brighton Dome venues, the annual Brighton Festival and Brighton & Hove Music & Arts (BHMA), who deliver music education to children and young people across the city. The contract to manage East Sussex Music has been awarded by East Sussex County Council following a tender exercise carried out in accordance with national regulations.
Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival said:
“We are delighted to welcome East Sussex Music as part of our arts education provision. By operating collectively, access to creative and cultural experiences for children, young people, families, schools and communities will be significantly improved by enabling the service to lead county-wide initiatives.”
BHMA has been managed by BDBF since July 2017 when it transferred from Brighton & Hove City Council. It provides music, arts education and performance opportunities across the city with over 4000 children and young people directly taught by the service each week. The service also leads on a range of major projects and events - such as SoundCity, Brighton & Hove’s Music Education Hub - which engages a further 3000 children and young people through live performances.
Peter Chivers, Head of Brighton & Hove Music & Arts added:
“Music has the potential to transform young people’s lives and can improve learning and life skills, boosts social development and fosters teamwork. Through our partnership with ESM we can continue to use our collective expertise so that children and young people across Brighton and Hove and East Sussex, are able to engage with, enjoy and be inspired by music, whatever their background.”
ESM will be based in Lewes with a team of over 80 professional music teachers. There will be no significant changes to the service as a result of the transfer. Continued activities include weekly instrumental lessons in local schools in every part of East Sussex; bands, choirs and orchestras, including local Area Music Centres in Heathfield, Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes; weekend and holiday music activities; performances, events and training for schools, staff and pupils.
Stuart Gallimore, East Sussex County Council director of children’s services, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with an organisation which has a proven track record of delivering high quality music education, which ensures that the music service has a sustainable, long-term future and that young people in East Sussex can continue to enjoy a wide range of music lessons and other activities.”