Back Back

Arts gets connected to careers through a series of week-long events

28/02/2023
Boy singing with microphone in his hand

The University of Wolverhampton’s Arts Connect team is getting down to business by showcasing, signposting and promoting the diverse array of career opportunities available across the arts and cultural sector during National Careers Week from 6 until 11 March 2023. 

Arts Connect, in partnership with Writing West Midlands and Creative Alliance, is supporting nine fun and engaging Creative Careers events for and with young people across the West Midlands. 

Writing West Midlands, working with the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians (ASCEL), have developed a programme called Careers with Words, touring libraries across the West Midlands during National Careers Week.  

These free events aim to inspire young people aged 14+ to consider a future as a writer, librarian, content creator, editor or one of the many roles being showcased with writing at their core.  

Arts Connect, in partnership with Creative Alliance, is supporting the Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEP) of Solihull, Walsall, Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire and Creative Connections Herefordshire to host Creative Industry Careers Days during National Careers Week across the West Midlands. 

The four events will take place at The Core in Solihull, The New Art Gallery Walsall, the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Hereford College of Arts. The events will involve talks from creative professionals, tours of the creative spaces, panel discussions, and creative style learning activities for young people to learn about the different job roles within the creative industries and how to become a creative professional. 

Lucy Carlton-Walker, LCEP Manager, said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with ASCEL, Writing West Midlands and Creative Alliance, to offer nine fun and engaging creative career events for children and young people and their parents, carers and teachers to attend for free during National Careers Week. This is a fantastic opportunity for children and young people from across the region to understand the different career pathways in the arts and cultural sector that are open to them and where they can go for further information, as the next generation of creatives.”  

Emma Boniwell, Learning & Participation Manager at Writing West Midlands, said: “Writing West Midlands is excited to bring a wide selection of inspirational professionals to the West Midlands as part of Careers with Words. 

Simeon Moore, CEO, Mindseye Development C.I.C, said: “I am so excited about the events we are organising. The young people who attend will have the chance to work with some amazing creatives from across the country and have the chance to get involved in some fantastic creative activities. 

“My work with Creative Alliance has been focused around encouraging and supporting young people to attain employment within the creative industries. These events during National Careers Week will have a massive impact on that. Creating awareness of the different job roles within the industry and giving young people the confidence and belief that finding a career within the creative industry is attainable.” 

Arts Connect is a development agency connecting and supporting communities across the West Midlands, to enable children and young people (from 0-25) to enjoy a rich and meaningful arts and cultural life.  

The team leads change by working with partners in education, arts and cultural organisations, local government, and others to run activities that create new opportunities for children and young people. 

Arts Connect is actively connected to thousands of schools, teachers, arts and cultural organisations and individual artists and through them to the children and young people of the West Midlands region. 

The team works across the West Midlands, including the metropolitan local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Stoke on Trent, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall and Wolverhampton, as well as the shire counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. 

To find out more about the week and book onto the Careers with Words events, take a look at the website. 

Anyone interested in courses being offered in the Wolverhampton School of Art should check out the website or register for one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

ENDS 

For press enquiries contact Felicity Martin, Communications and Marketing Manager, Arts Connect. Mobile: 07779 773197. Email: F.Martin@wlv.ac.uk 

Editors Notes

Arts Connect

What is Arts Connect?

  • We are a development agency connecting and supporting communities across the West Midlands, to enable children and young people (from 0-25) to enjoy a rich and meaningful arts and cultural life.
  • We lead change by working with partners in education, arts and cultural organisations, local government, and others to run activities that create new opportunities for children & young people.
  • We are actively connected to thousands of schools, teachers, arts and cultural organisations and individual artists and through them to the children and young people of our region.
  • We work across the West Midlands, including the metropolitan local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Stoke on Trent, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall and Wolverhampton, as well as the shire counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
  • What we do we:
    • Develop, connect and support the workforce in the creative and cultural sector with programmes of professional development and R&D.   
    • Run programmes with networks of educational settings connecting teachers and children.
    • Develop, connect and support professionals in formal and informal education and learning by offering a programme of CPD
    • Support the creation of place based strategic and sustainable local partnerships to ensure the continuation and development of an arts and cultural offer for children and young people.
    • Attract new sources of revenue for work with young people through our Partnership Investment
    • Until March 31st, 2023, we deliver the Bridge programme in the West Midlands for Arts Council England (ACE).
    • Arts Connect is part of the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences at the University of Wolverhampton.
    • For further information visit artsconnect.co.uk

Writing West Midlands

Established in 2012, Writing West Midlands is the literature development agency for the West Midlands, supporting creative writers and creative writing. It is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Writing West Midlands offers support to help writers establish their writing careers. It supports young writers as they develop their interest in creative writing through Spark Young Writers. It runs festivals and events, including the Birmingham Literature Festival and the annual National Writers’ Conference. It exists to champion the West Midlands region as a great place to be a writer. 

Careers with Words will be at:

Burton-on-Trent Library, Tuesday 7th March 2023, 4pm

Wednesbury Library, Wednesday 8th March 2023, 1pm

Leamington Spa Library, Wednesday 8th March 2023, 6pm

The Hive, Worcester, Thursday 9th March 2023, 10am

Shrewsbury Library, Friday 10th March 2023, 1pm

Find out more and book.  

Creative Alliance

Creative Alliance is a social enterprise based in Birmingham. They are a specialised training provider that look to help ALL people achieve their success in the Creative, Digital and Marketing sector. This includes offering OFSTED rated good apprenticeships to creative, cultural and digital companies across England, community and arts related projects that look to support young people into work in the creative sector and work-based training. 

Creative Alliance will be working with:  

  • Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire CEP, the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme on 16th February and 6th March
  • Solihull CEP, The Core Solihull on 7th March
  • Creative Connections Herefordshire, Hereford College of Arts on 9th March
  • Walsall CEP, The New Art Gallery Walsall on 10th March

Find out more.

 

 

 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release

Related Stories