Surrealist painter Roland Penrose was passionate about modern art.

He organised the first international exhibition of surrealist paintings in 1936, was a trustee of the Tate Museum and co-founded one of the countrys foremost art centres, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London.

He and his wife, model and photographer Lee Miller, also lived the life.

They played host to artists, poets, painters, writers, gallery owners and curators, including Picasso, Joan Miro and Man Ray, creating a kind of perpetual arts congress.

The couple's son, writer and film-maker Antony Penrose has dedicated his life to fulfilling their legacy of sharing and promoting surrealism. Five years ago, he opened their home, Farley Farm House in Chiddingly, near Uckfield, to the public.

The farm house contains a fantastic collection of artistic treasures.

There are works by Penrose and Miller, who was one of the few women photographers to cover the Second World War, capturing images of the Blitz and concentration camps, Man Ray, Picasso, Paul Eluard and others.

Now Antony Penrose has decided to take his parents' legacy further.

Next week Farleys Yard Trust, a charitable trust he founded earlier this year, embarks on its first educational programme, touring schools in the south-east. The aim is to bring an awareness of surrealist art to young people. The trust hopes to reach 21 primary schools, 15 secondary schools, five community colleges and three universities each year.

Mr Penrose said: "Promoting art has been like a family tradition, starting in 1936 when my father held the first international surrealist exhibition in London. It was one of the most fulfilling things he ever did and it stayed with him, which I think was why he wanted to start the ICA.

"I suppose it rubbed off on me. I get enormous satisfaction from sharing the work of great artists with people. Art is like a force for changing people's lives and increasing their understanding of pleasure."

Mr Penrose believes children will relate particularly well to surrealism.

He said: "People are often initially intimidated or afraid of looking foolish when they discuss it but then they realise it's funny, sexy, silly, relevant. For children its a way of encouraging them to think outside the box, not to take anything at face value.

"It teaches them to look beyond what they are told, whether scientific fact, rules or social conventions."

Ian Chance, Farleys Yard Trust director, was brought in by Mr Penrose to design the educational programme. He said: "Arts can progress through museums, which is all very well for major towns, but what about rural areas? When internationally-known artists have achieved a focus in a small English village, there's an obligation to fulfil that legacy.

"What Roland Penrose and Lee Miller set up was incredible. Their circle included the most influential people of in 20th Century art. This programme will bring this legacy to people who would not otherwise be able to visit us."

The programme includes a series of outreach workshops, talks, training days, theatre and art projects.

It will also offer research opportunities and access to Farley Farm House and the collections and Mr Chance hopes to hold an annual public exhibition of surrealist art by students from sixth-form schools in Sussex.

The educational programme has been made possible by a £29,000 donation from Barclays.

For more information, phone 01825 872691 or log on to www.rolandpenrose.co.uk or www.leemiller.co.uk Tours of Farley Farm House (limited to between ten and 15 people) take place once a month from April to October or can be organised privately.