Creative Careers Conversation. The Arena Theatre and UK Partnerships are joining forces to host an event where the day-to-day jobs of those working in the arts are brought into the spotlight, with colleagues sharing stories of the journeys they took to get where they are now – both educationally and professionally. This virtual event will take place on Wednesday 26th May (in the afternoon) at the Arena Theatre, and will be livestreamed to partnership schools and colleges across the West Midlands and beyond.
Organisers are looking for 9 to 12 colleagues to join one of three panels. The three panels will cover anything and everything from marketing (in all its many forms), press and PR, fundraising, graphic design, video-editing, social media, alongside those transferable skills such as customer service, project management, time management – nothing is off limits! The organisers are keen to highlight the diverse routes available to those entering the creative industries. The event aims to inspire young people by demonstrating that a career in the Creative Industries can be for them, in turn destabilising stigmas that creative careers are not viable. If you’re interested in taking part, please drop Sam Fleming (Education and Outreach Manager, Arena Theatre) and Angela Hind (Schools and Colleges Partnership Manager) an e-mail, no later than Tuesday 9th March at 5.00pm : Sam.Fleming@wlv.ac.uk / Angela.Hind@wlv.ac.uk
This week is Discover! Creative Careers Week, led by CCSkills. This online programme aims to introduce over 60,000 secondary school students to an exciting array of careers and workplaces across the creative industries. Throughout the week, an online campaign will be running celebrating the lesser-known jobs within the sector and busting some common misconceptions around creative careers. The campaign will show that, especially post-Covid, creative careers are not only viable and ‘proper’, but are exciting, current, relevant and well-respected. The Proper Job campaign will feature short videos from figures from across the creative industries tackling their chosen ‘myths’ around their roles and breaking down common misconceptions. Hosted on the Creative Careers Programme Twitter account, key stats and figures will be also be shared, gathered to prove many of the more common misconceptions wrong. @CreativeCareer5 #DiscoverProperJobs
Youth Leadership in the Arts Conference 2021. Curated and hosted by the Arts Connect Youth Forum, this two day online event is for young people aged 15-24 who are interested in a career in the arts. Over the two days, attendees will attend panel discussions from industry professionals sharing lots of valuable tips, advice and industry knowledge, as well as take part in talks on topics such as wellbeing in the arts, digital troubleshooting and getting your foot through the industry door. To find out more and to book tickets (donation based from £1 or free through bursary application) go here.
Conference for Teen Writers, 27th March 2021 (1-4pm, Zoom webinar). In response to feedback from young people, Writing West Midlands is running a conference which lifts the lid on the publishing industry and provides an insight into writing as a career. The content is aimed at young people aged 14-20, but teachers, carers, youth workers and any other interested parties are welcome to attend. Students already studying at university might find it helpful to think about other career options open to them after graduation. Tickets cost from £10. Bursaries are available on request – please get in touch and we’ll send out a code ( bursaries can only be given to those living or studying in the West Midlands in receipt of pupil premium or other Government benefits). More information here.
Apply Now to be Part of my Dance Digital. New for 2021, Dance4 and DanceXchange will deliver MY (Midlands Youth) Dance Digital 2021 this April, a celebration of youth dance across the whole of the Midlands region, for dancers aged 11-19 or up to 25 with disabilities, as part of One Dance UK’s U.Dance 2021. Open to school or community groups; youth dance companies; private dance schools; and individual dancers, dancers can create brand new content which follows current government pandemic guidelines such as utilising Zoom, working within a bubble or working in COVID secure settings. You can also submit pre-recorded work or a mixture of the two. Your submitted dance piece must be suitable for screen. We welcome dancers performing ANY style or genre. Deadline: Wednesday 31st March 2021. Reminder: If you engage in online dance activity, you agree that you do so at your own risk; are voluntarily participating in these activities; and assume all risk of injury to yourself. Apply here
2021 Arts Connect Leadership Convention, 9th March 2021, 10am – 5.30pm (with breaks) via Zoom. Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer Birmingham 2022 and Festival UK, shares his leadership journey and challenges as he leads high profile national and international projects in this moment. A day of learning and reflection on various provocations that will feed, enliven, enrich and support your leadership as you navigate the current challenges in the arts and cultural sector. Themes for the day will include cultural democracy; participative leadership; the need to expand our thinking about shifting audiences and shifting spaces for arts and culture; the importance of resetting our own commitments and expectations around fairness and equality in the sector. These themes are pressing as we focus on the health of our cultural ecology. This event is open for people living in the West Midlands. The event is being recorded and by booking you consent to this. Book here.
