The Hastings and Rother Arts Education Network seeks to help redress the balance of diminishing cultural resources in schools.
Established in 2013 the network brings together schools, cultural organisations and artists in meaningful, lasting relationships.
Working with partners in Hastings and Rother in East Sussex, the focus is on using local resources for local schools, creating sustainable projects that embed culture into young people's everyday lives.
We offer regular networking meetings for teachers and practitioners, information exchange including newsletters, opportunities for cultural engagement and bespoke cultural projects; supporting teachers in the classroom, artists working in schools and organisations offering cultural outreach.

HRAEN is Recruiting for New Trustee/s

Would you like to join the trustees of HRAEN (Hastings and Rother Arts Education network) as we rebrand and expand the charity to operate across East Sussex? Building on the success of HRAEN we aim to grow into a county-wide charity that:

• Connects schools with individual arts practitioners and cultural organisations
• Advocates for children and young people’s access to arts and culture
• Supports and builds partnerships across arts, education, health

HRAEN has been doing this type of work since it was established in 2013 and became a charity in 2018. The trustees feel it is a good time to expand our remit across East Sussex and connect with arts and education communities in Eastbourne/ Wealden and the Lewes/Newhaven areas.

You would be joining us at an exciting moment when we are:

• Consulting on our plan for growth across East Sussex
• Rebranding and relaunching this autumn
• Developing plans for a new website to promote and share information on opportunities across East Sussex

HRAEN currently has a group of four trustees with skills across arts, education, finance, fundraising, strategic planning, comms and marketing. We have no paid staff, but it is an ambition for the future.

We welcome applications from all potential trustees. You might be someone wanting to develop skills in management and planning, someone returning to work and someone semi/fully retired with relevant skills and experience. We are working towards greater diversity on our board and welcome people with good connections to our new growth areas in Eastbourne/Lewes, Wealden districts or a pan county perspective.

The trustees meet 4-6 times annually. The role may take 9-12 days of your time per year, in this development phase.

For more info see the Role Description here.

To apply please fill in the online form here.

Deadline to apply: Tuesday 22 April, 10am.

We plan to have informal conversations online with all applicants on Wednesday 7 May. If you would like an informal chat, please email [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you.

Network Meetings

Our next network meeting will be on Monday 28th April, venue TBC, start time TBC (between 4pm-5pm to suit attendee availability).

​Cabaret Mechanical Theatre will be doing an interactive workshop during the meeting. We will also have updates from local cultural event organisers and time for teachers to network with teas and coffees provided.

Open to teachers and artists -  places are free but need to be booked in advance here.

"...and if we truly wish to use all our talent, offer opportunity for all, and increase social mobility, then access to arts and culture must remain high on the agenda, whether in school or outside school."
Darren Henley OBE

"It was through dance lessons at school that a world of opportunity and freedom opened up for me. To be able to express myself now through my work is entirely down to this first opportunity. I wholly support a programme that offers young people the chance to experience the same high quality arts education. Experiencing and participating in the arts can genuinely change the direction of someone's life and it is in our schools that these first encounters should take place." 
​Hofesh Shechter