Breakthrough Traineeship – Cultural Network & Civic Engagement Officer, Bexhill-on-Sea
About Breakthrough
Breakthrough is a 6‑month employability programme designed as a stepping stone to get you workplace experience and all-important employment skills. This short placement gives you insight into a future career in the Creative Industry, supporting your confidence and professionalism in the workplace, and helping you to break through into a career that matters to you!
Read more about Breakthrough here:
The role
This placement offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of arts, community development and civic leadership.
The Cultural Network & Civic Engagement Assistant will support the coordination and development of the Bexhill Cultural Network, helping strengthen relationships between organisations, gather evidence of impact and contribute towards the development of a town-wide cultural strategy.
The role will involve regular contact with cultural organisations, artists, local authorities, community groups and creative businesses across Bexhill.
This role will include assisting with the:
- Coordinating administrative support for the Bexhill Cultural Network.
- Producing bi-weekly network updates and communications.
- Maintaining contact databases and stakeholder records.
- Organising meetings, agendas, minutes and follow-up actions.
- Conducting regular “network health checks” with partner organisations.
- Collecting and analysing cultural participation and engagement data.
- Supporting the creation of shared datasets that evidence the impact of culture across Bexhill.
- Researching local, regional and national cultural policy and best practice.
- Supporting the development of a long-term cultural strategy for Bexhill.
- Identifying funding opportunities and assisting with fundraising research.
- Mapping cultural assets, organisations, venues and creative practitioners across the town.
- Supporting the delivery of Bexhill Art Weekender and other civic cultural programmes.
- Gathering stories, case studies and testimonials that demonstrate cultural impact.
- Assisting with social media, newsletters and public communications.
- Attending partner meetings and networking events across the town.
- Supporting reporting for funders, stakeholders and local authorities.
- Contributing to projects connected to Bexhill’s cultural identity, heritage and future development.
The role will be based at offices across Flatland Projects and Beeching Road Studios, with opportunities to work directly with partner organisations across Bexhill.
About the employer
Flatland Projects is a contemporary visual arts organisation, artist studio provider and cultural programme producer based in Bexhill-on-Sea. Alongside delivering a year-round exhibitions programme, artist development opportunities and public events, Flatland coordinates the Bexhill Cultural Network, a partnership of cultural, community and civic organisations working collectively to strengthen cultural life across the town.
The organisation works closely with partners including De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill Museum, Rother District Council, Bexhill Town Council, Beeching Road Studios, community organisations, educational institutions and independent creative practitioners. Through this work, Flatland is helping to shape a long-term vision for culture in Bexhill and support the town’s growing cultural infrastructure.
Deadline for applications
The deadline is 11:45pm, on 27 July 2026
You will need to download the job description below and read it carefully, and review the eligibility criteria below to ensure you are able to apply.
You then need to fill out the form below to submit your application.
All of the job descriptions include an “Employers advice” section and we strongly recommend that you tailor your answers to ensure they cover that advice given for the specific role you are applying for.
You can apply for more than one role if you wish to, but you will need to submit separate applications using the same process.
We strongly suggest that you research travel options for the role before applying to ensure travel is feasible.
To be eligible to apply for a Breakthrough traineeship, applicants must:
- Be aged 18-25 on the 28 September 2026
- Have the right to work in the UK
- Available to start work on the 28 September 2026 and available for the duration of the placement (until 28th March 2027)
- Have no or little (less than one month) previous experience of working in an arts, creative or voluntary sector organisation
In addition to the above, applicants should also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Currently not in employment, education or training (NEET)
- Be disabled and/or Neurodivergent
- Have current or prior mental health issues
- Have experienced racism, homophobic or transgender discrimination
- Be a recent school or college leaver (A level or equivalent)
- Are struggling to find work due to lack of employment or training experience
Please note that this programme is not suitable for those on a degree placement year or an MA programme.
Download the full job description
This contains more information about the role, including advice from the employer.
Breakthrough 2026 Application Form
Contact us
If you are unsure if you are eligible, have any other questions, or need information in a different format, please email our Careers team:
FAQs
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If you have applied for a Breakthrough placement in a previous year and been unsuccessful, then yes you are very welcome to apply again if you meet this years eligibility criteria!
If you have already successfully undertaken a Breakthrough placement before, you won't be eligible to apply again.
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Please do. You will need to submit an application for each role you are interested in and should check that the travel to the workplace is realistic for you before applying.