Chair's - Creative, Cultural, Digital and Media Task Group
Co-Chair Kim Byford, Project Director, Talent Accelerator (De La Warr Pavilion)East Sussex County Council
Kim has had a long career post-16 education working in a variety of Colleges and Sixth forms across the country since 2000. She is committed to introducing children and young people to new experiences, believing that this builds confidence which increases achievement across the curriculum and raises aspiration.
Kim Byford joined DLWP as Project Director for the Talent Accelerator from Bexhill College where she was Head of Performing Arts and Associate Principal (Community). In this role she took a wide-angle view of the College’s relationships within the local community as well as forging relationships with the arts community to ensure clear career progression routes for young people.
Kim was part of the steering group, with Rother District Council, De La Warr Pavilion and Flatland Projects, for the development of Beeching Road Studios, a new creative hub for Bexhill. She understands the local context for young people and is committed to supporting them to fulfilling creative careers.
Co-Chair Sally Staples, Cultural Strategy Manager East Sussex County Council
Sally Staples is the Team Manager for Culture and Tourism at East Sussex County Council. Sally established Culture East Sussex and was part of the team that set up the South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN) – networks which give voice to the strategic needs of the Cultural Sector. Sally’s involvement in the cultural sector has ranged from practitioner, facilitator, commissioner and writer to venue manager and performer. Her recent projects include securing Create South East (a business support programme which is part of the national Create Growth Programme) for East Sussex in partnership with SECEN.