Culture Shared - cultural resources become a catalyst for creative learning

Students from Ringmer Community College, Ringmer at Lewes Castle, Lewes

Culture Shared was designed to uncover the potential of East Sussex’s rich cultural resources as a catalyst for creative learning. The project aimed to develop new partnerships and new learning between specialist schools and cultural organisations across East Sussex. Between March 2007 and March 2008 Culture Shared generated new partnerships between 12 East Sussex specialist schools and 11 venue based heritage and cultural organisations, working with a range of creative practitioners to realise 11 unique projects across East Sussex.

Culture Shared is an excellent model for future working; demonstrating how schools, museums, libraries, archives and creative practitioners can come together to develop engaging learning opportunities.’ Simon Edwards, Development Director, MLA South East.

Culture Shared grew out of a consultation carried out by the Museum Development Service for East Sussex, Brighton and Hove (MDS) and Creative Partnerships, Hastings & East Sussex supported by Museums, Libraries and Archives South East. Together they identified opportunities for schools and cultural and heritage organisations to work together in new and creative ways, to increase the capacity for learning at cultural venues and heritage sites across East Sussex. Each project developed in its own unique way as the partnerships grew.

Objectives

1. To increase capacity for learning at cultural/heritage sites through skill sharing and partnership working with schools and other cultural providers.
2. To increase cultural providers knowledge of current learning initiatives and trends impacting on schools in East Sussex and the cultural/heritage sector.
3. To increase schools’ knowledge of how partnerships with cultural providers can support current learning initiatives in schools