Alongside and interwoven with the rescue of buildings from dereliction into productive use, we lead or get involved in a number of cross-cutting projects.
Trinity Triangle HAZ
The Trinity Triangle High Street Heritage Action Zone is a four year regeneration programme supported by Historic England to breathe new life into a historic part of Hastings town centre: the Trinity Triangle and America Ground. The High Street Heritage Action Zone will see a drive to bring empty and run down historic buildings back to life to provide housing, workspaces, a gallery and shops that are affordable for residents and business owners.
OBX - the creative technology hub
OBX is a long-term creative technology project operating out of the Mezzanine floor of the Observer Building. It explores the opportunities presented by creative technology in building stronger communities.
It is an open, accessible, inclusive community inspired and led project that actively responds to the varied needs of the people and communities of Hastings. Our goal is to open up the tools and debates of the often-exclusionary fields of art and technology for collective action for a better future.
We organise and produce an evolving series of projects, workshops and events broadly based around creative technology within a community context. We aim to produce three-four themed projects a year - a ‘theme’ being a specific community need or relevant debate (for example: ‘neurodiversity and technology’ , ‘women in creative tech’, ‘A.I., automation and creativity’, ‘local heritage’ etc.).
As well as themes, projects will involve a number of 'genres' of creative tech, including:
- ARTS, MAKING & ROBOTICS
- VIDEO/CINEMA
- AUDIO/MUSIC
- 3D SCANNING & MANIPULATION (including gaming, VR, AR)
- APPLIED TECH (eg Commons contacts database & engagement platform)
Over a period of 2 years to March 2025, OBX will run 5-6 projects using these different genres. Each will be led and informed by young people. Each project will enable OBX to acquire the necessary kit through research, discussion and consensus-building.
Each project will have a four-month participative production phase culminating in an event: e.g. an exhibition, website, performance, screening etc. and an output: e.g. software, artwork, film, business model, community resource etc. The project is archived at the end, creating a long-term, ever-expanding resource for the community.
OBX projects take place primarily within the Observer Building but also within the wider Hastings community, nationally, and within online space.
See our work so far at Digital Arts Hub Hastings
OBX - the creative technology hub
OBX is a long-term creative technology project operating out of the Mezzanine floor of the Observer Building. It explores the opportunities presented by creative technology in building stronger communities.
It is an open, accessible, inclusive community inspired and led project that actively responds to the varied needs of the people and communities of Hastings. Our goal is to open up the tools and debates of the often-exclusionary fields of art and technology for collective action for a better future.
Currently taking bookings for their Valentines Themed 3D printed couple portrait project here.
We organise and produce an evolving series of projects, workshops and events broadly based around creative technology within a community context. We aim to produce three-four themed projects a year - a ‘theme’ being a specific community need or relevant debate (for example: ‘neurodiversity and technology’ , ‘women in creative tech’, ‘A.I., automation and creativity’, ‘local heritage’ etc.).
As well as themes, projects will involve a number of 'genres' of creative tech, including:
- ARTS, MAKING & ROBOTICS
- VIDEO/CINEMA
- AUDIO/MUSIC
- 3D SCANNING & MANIPULATION (including gaming, VR, AR)
- APPLIED TECH (eg Commons contacts database & engagement platform)
Over a period of 2 years to March 2025, OBX will run 5-6 projects using these different genres. Each will be led and informed by young people. Each project will enable OBX to acquire the necessary kit through research, discussion and consensus-building.
Each project will have a four-month participative production phase culminating in an event: e.g. an exhibition, website, performance, screening etc. and an output: e.g. software, artwork, film, business model, community resource etc. The project is archived at the end, creating a long-term, ever-expanding resource for the community.
OBX projects take place primarily within the Observer Building but also within the wider Hastings community, nationally, and within online space.
The Youth Commons
The Youth Commons is a Youth Investment Funded project. We work with people aged 11-18 responding to the wants and needs of young people in and around Hastings. We offer a term time programme of evening sessions at Eagle House. During these sessions there is free food, activities and time to hang out with your friends. This is a 3rd space for young people away from school and home where they can be their authentic selves with the support of youth workers.
Alongside the termtime weekly sessions we also run a series of youth led events in The Observer Building. These events are all about giving young people ownership of a space and platforming young creatives in paid opportunities. The Youth Commons has lots of opportunities for 11-18 year olds to take a leading role in the programme. We host industry placements college students and run 6 monthly paid training positions for NEET people aged 17/18.
Heritage Development Trust
Architectural Heritage Fund have supported the Hastings Commons over the past 3 years as a ‘heritage development trust’ – that is a non-profit, locally-rooted organisation tackling several heritage buildings
Kickstart Project
The Kickstart programme was part of a government scheme aimed at fostering employment for young people aged 16 to 24. Alongside two partner organisations, we employed 16 young people and provided them with weekly employability training to ensure these participants learnt crucial skills and to increase their likelihood of employment going forward. A resounding success due to our flexible needs-based approach tailoring roles to individual participants, we have since directly employed 3 of these ‘Kickstarters’ and continue to engage with others, each of whom contributes to the life and vibrancy of the ‘Commons’. Though the government scheme ended in March 2022, we hope to restart a version of this programme ourselves!
You can read more about the Kickstart Project in our recently launched Reflections Journal!
Kickstart Project
The Kickstart programme was part of a government scheme aimed at fostering employment for young people aged 16 to 24. Alongside two partner organisations, we employed 16 young people and provided them with weekly employability training to ensure these participants learnt crucial skills and to increase their likelihood of employment going forward. A resounding success due to our flexible needs-based approach tailoring roles to individual participants, we have since directly employed 3 of these ‘Kickstarters’ and continue to engage with others, each of whom contributes to the life and vibrancy of the ‘Commons’. Though the government scheme ended in March 2022, we hope to restart a version of this programme ourselves!
You can read more about the Kickstart Project in our recently launched Reflections Journal!