A Creative Alliance event hosted by

The Royal Shakespeare Company

CREATIVE JOURNEYS:
MEET THE PROFESSIONALS
May 9th 2014
Stratford-Upon-Avon
On the morning of 14th May 2014, 200
students from over 10 different schools
and colleges* arrived at The Royal
Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-
Avon to take part in Creative Journeys
Coventry & Warwickshire: Meet the
Professionals. These represented a real
cross-section of students from Coventry
and Warwickshire.
Creative Journeys Coventry &
Warwickshire: Meet the Professionals was
a unique opportunity for KS4/5 students,
and their teachers/lecturers, to meet and
talk with real creative professionals in
order to gain a true insight into working
in the creative and cultural sector. We
brought together professionals from
around the local area, and from a range
of disciplines, in order to give students
the insider knowledge they need to start
out in the sector.
Introduction
So what was it?
* The schools and colleges were: Bournville Careers College, Codsall Community High School, Hereward College,
King Edward VI School, Lordswood Academies Trust, Myton School, Stoke Park School, Stratford Girls Grammar School,
Stratford-upon-Avon High School, Tile Hill Wood School, Weobley High School, Whiteheath Education Centre and Wigmore School.
1
The Format
2
Industry Discussions
Students move to their chosen panel discussions:
art and design, digital media, music or performance.
Employability Skills Session / Backstage Tour
An optional afternoon employability skills session looking at how to
present your CV professionally, or a behind the scenes tour of the RSC.
Arrival
Schools sign in their students who have
pre-booked places and gather in the Swan Theatre.
Introduction
Introduction and presentation about careers in the sector, including
live performances from students of Stratford-upon-Avon College.
Break
A chance to look at career stalls, talk
with professionals and give feedback.
3
Introduction
The morning began with an introduction and presentation in The
RSCs Swan Theatre. This gave students an insight into what the
day would be all about. The presentation covered:

The types of jobs people do;
The skills and qualities people need;
The frst steps people take to get work
in the creative and cultural sector.
To warm up the day this introduction also included a live
performance by Stratford-upon-Avon College dancers.
Twelve useful websites about getting
into the Creative and Cultural industries:
www.yourcreativefuture.org.uk www.creative-choices.co.uk
www.creativealliance.org.uk www.creativeskillset.org/careers
www.apprenticeships.org.uk www.getintodesign.org
www.getintotheatre.org www.getintomusic.org
www.getintojewellery.org www.gothinkbig.co.uk
www.ideastap.com
March of the modern makers -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTpisij26Kk
The Panels
4

ART & DESIGN

Dawn Harris, Artist/
Art Gallery Director,
Ragley Hall
Helana Santos,
Games Designer,
Arch Creatives
Richard Preedy,
Head of Creative,
Superdream
DIGITAL MEDIA
Ray Clenshaw,
Communications Manager,
Belgrade Theatre
Richard Elms,
Head of Digital,
Culture Coventry

Phil Middleham,
Senior Media Lecturer,
Stratford Upon
Avon College
MUSIC
Nathan Portlock,
Musician, Freelance
Deci4life,
Creative Practitioner,
Freelance
Bruce ONeil,
Musical Director,
RSC
PERFORMANCE
Mark Worth,
Artistic Director,
Highly Sprung
Annelie Powell,
Casting Director, RSC
Martin Bassindale,
Actor
Students took part in their chosen
industry panel discussions...
Freelance musician Nathan Portlock in
the music panel discussion
5
Industry Panel Discussions - Questions
How can you learn new skills that
you arent taught in school?
How can I get into and
better at performance
if I have stage fright?
What was it
like on the frst
day of your
frst real job in
this sector?
Have your career plans always
worked out the way you planned?
I really want
to become
a sound
technician.
Where do I
start?
How can you
get work
experience
without
previous work
experience?
Students were encouraged to
write down any questions they
had for the professionals, along
with their feedback about the
event. These were written on
the backs of cards, which also
doubled as Yes, No and Maybe
voting cards for students to give
their opinions on working in the
creative and cultural sector.
A small selection of questions that students asked the professionals on the day.
Industry Panel Discussions - Top Tips
You dont have to go to Uni to
prove you are good at something.
Start saying yes.
Take every opportunity
because positivity leads
to positive things. Involve
yourself in projects to get
experience. Things like that
can go on CVs.
Always be yourself in an
audition - the audition panel
want to see YOU.
A small selection of top tips from
the industry professionals...
Dawn Harris,
Artist/ Art Gallery Director,
Ragley Hall
6
Nathan Portlock,
Musician, Freelance
Deci4life,
Creative Practitioner,
Freelance
If you want something just do it.
Think about the how later.
7
Creative Employability Skills
As an addition to the main part of
the day, a CV and employability skills
workshop was also offered in the
afternoon looking at how to get your
frst paid work in the creative and
cultural industries. This included:
What makes a good and bad CV. A chance
to look at CVs from the point of view of a
creative and cultural employer to see what
works and what doesnt.
Tips on how to present yourself online: What
kind of email addresses are good; what are the
best free portfolio websites; the importance of
being professional on social media.
How to make the most of the experience you
have when applying for jobs.
-
-
-
Amerah Saleh,
Freelance Practitioner
and Spoken Work Poet
8
Young Peoples Feedback
What have been the best bits about today?

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
h
o
w
t
h
e
c
a
s
t
in
g

p
r
o
c
e
s
s
w
o
r
k
s

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
h
o
w
t
h
e
c
a
s
t
in
g

p
r
o
c
e
s
s
w
o
r
k
s

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
h
o
w

p
e
o
p
le
g
e
t
w
h
e
r
e

t
h
e
y
a
r
e
n
o
w
a
n
d
t
h
e

d
if
f
e
r
e
n
t
r
o
u
t
e
s

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
h
o
w

p
e
o
p
le
g
e
t
w
h
e
r
e

t
h
e
y
a
r
e
n
o
w
a
n
d
t
h
e

d
if
f
e
r
e
n
t
r
o
u
t
e
s

Hearing personal
experiences and
pathw
ays into
m
usic
Hearing personal
experiences and
pathw
ays into
m
usic
The speaker discussing
gam
e design - Im
now

really interested in that!
The speaker discussing
gam
e design - Im
now

really interested in that!

G
e
t
t
in
g
t
h
e

p
e
r
s
p
e
c
t
iv
e

o
f
e
m
p
lo
y
e
r
s

a
n
d
w
h
a
t
t
h
e
y

lo
o
k
f
o
r

G
e
t
t
in
g
t
h
e

p
e
r
s
p
e
c
t
iv
e

o
f
e
m
p
lo
y
e
r
s

a
n
d
w
h
a
t
t
h
e
y

lo
o
k
f
o
r

The Q+A with the

casting director
and an actor for
the RSC
The Q+A with the
casting director
and an actor for
the RSC
F
in
d
in
g
o
u
t a
b
o
u
t th
e
q
u
a
lif
ca
tio
n
s
y
o
u
D
O
N
T
n
e
e
d

F
in
d
in
g
o
u
t a
b
o
u
t th
e
q
u
a
lif
ca
tio
n
s
y
o
u
D
O
N
T
n
e
e
d

Meeting the
range of different
professionals
Meeting the
range of different
professionals
Fin
d
in
g
o
u
t a
b
o
u
t
d
iffe
re
n
t ca
re
e
rs in
th
e
a
tre
a
n
d
k
n
o
w
in
g

y
o
u
d
o
n
t h
a
v
e
to
g
o
to
d
ra
m
a
sch
o
o
l
Fin
d
in
g
o
u
t a
b
o
u
t
d
iffe
re
n
t ca
re
e
rs in
th
e
a
tre
a
n
d
k
n
o
w
in
g

y
o
u
d
o
n
t h
a
v
e
to
g
o
to
d
ra
m
a
sch
o
o
l
Young Peoples Feedback
More best bits...

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
f
r
o
m
t
h
e

p
r
o
f
e
s
s
io
n
a
ls
in

t
h
e
d
ig
it
a
l m
e
d
ia

in
d
u
s
t
r
y

L
e
a
r
n
in
g
f
r
o
m
t
h
e

p
r
o
f
e
s
s
io
n
a
ls
in

t
h
e
d
ig
it
a
l m
e
d
ia

in
d
u
s
t
r
y

Everything
was extremely
inspirational
Everything
was extremely
inspirational
B
ein
g
a
b
le
to
ta
lk to

rea
l th
ea
tre
p
ro
fessio
n
a
ls
B
ein
g
a
b
le
to
ta
lk to

rea
l th
ea
tre
p
ro
fessio
n
a
ls
Realising
that I need a
5 year plan
Realising
that I need a
5 year plan

N
ic
e
t
o
le
a
r
n
t
h
e
j
o
u
r
n
e
y
o
f

a
n
R
S
C
a
c
t
o
r

N
ic
e
t
o
le
a
r
n
t
h
e
j
o
u
r
n
e
y
o
f

a
n
R
S
C
a
c
t
o
r

The speakers were

very different but
together gave a
well rounded view
of a theatre career
The speakers were
very different but
together gave a
well rounded view
of a theatre career
W
h
e
n
w
e

a
rra
n
g
e
d
th
e

to
p
6
th
in
g
s
y
o
u
n
e
e
d
to

g
e
t a
jo
b

W
h
e
n
w
e

a
rra
n
g
e
d
th
e

to
p
6
th
in
g
s
y
o
u
n
e
e
d
to

g
e
t a
jo
b

H
aving a self
e
w
ith M
ark from

H
ighly Sprung!
H
aving a self
e
w
ith M
ark from

H
ighly Sprung!
Getting insight
into what salaries
are like in the
creative industries
Getting insight
into what salaries
are like in the
creative industries
9
Twitter Feedback
Highly Sprung @
HighlySprung M
ay 9
Great time talking @ #CJCW @create_alliance
offering an insight to work in the arts to13-19yr
olds. #Selfe @TheRSC pic.twitter.com/5yghJmrq67
Caitlin @
Caitlinnxxxxxxx May 9
@HighlySprung @create_alliance @
TheRSC thankyou for the great talk really
helped and had a good time!!
NSA CreativeCultural @
NSACreative May 9
Creative Choices event today @TheRSC with @create_alliance
@ArtsConnectWM and @StratfordColl leading the authentic
advise and guidance
A
n
d
r
e
w
F
o
w
le
s
@
F
o
w
le
s
A
n
d
y
M
a
y
9
@
c
re
a
te
_
a
llia
n
c
e
@
A
rts
C
o
n
n
e
c
tW
M
g
re
a
t
p
e
rfo
rm
a
n
c
e
fro
m
S
tra
tfo
rd
c
o
lle
g
e
to
g
e
t th
e

d
a
y
m
o
v
in
g
! #
c
jc
w
@
a
c
e
_
w
e
s
tm
id
s

p
ic
.tw
itte
r.c
o
m
/Z
b
JG
V
D
K
iD
g
Ray Clenshaw @BelgradeRay May 9
Here I am sat on a panel for @create_alliances Creative Journeys earlier today @TheRSC. Twas great fun. pic.twitter.com/LbTLO8b5z8
Daw
n H
arris Artist @
RagleyGallery M
ay 9
Today @
thesw
antheatre Run by @
create_alliance Meet
the Professionals. valuable info. shared w
ith young
people for their creative journey.
rose magaia @rosemagaia May 9
Meet the professional in Stratford today,
looking forward!!!! @ArtsConnectWM
@create_alliance @TheRSC
Some select tweets from the day...
10
Teachers Feedback
As a result of the Creative Journeys event:
My understanding of
careers in the creative &
cultural sector has increased.
My students will have a much
better understanding of jobs
people do in the sector.
My understanding of careers
in the creative & cultural
sector has increased.
28% 57%
43%
43%
43%
28%
28%
14%
14%
Completely A lot Quite a bit Fairly A little bit Not at all
It allowed the students to realise
that the career paths they might
imagine are achievable. The music
students were buzzing after their
talks.
Seeing just HOW MANY jobs are
actually available in the Creative
Industry flled a few otherwise
cynical students with some hope!
A key moment was seeing the
students asking questions and
realising that they really wanted
to know more. They clearly look up
to the professionals.
Thank you for the whole event;
the girls took a lot from the day
and they have now started to
think about their CVs and what FE
& employers are looking for.
It was great for the students to
network with real professionals
and get a greater insight into the
practice of artists and designers in
the creative industries.
It was a fantastic and invaluable
experience for the students. It
was far more personal than I had
thought it could be.
11
12
Creative Careers Resources
https://www.creativejourneysevents.wordpress.com
For presentations and resources for you
to use in your own work please visit the
Creative Journeys web site:
Here you will also fnd all of the
professional profles of our panel members
from all of our Creative Journeys events.
Photography by Kate Green.
Report produced by Sam Jones of Creative Alliance.
With Thanks to:
Libby Alexander, Jessica Harris, Ryan Mason and
all of the staff at The Royal Shakespeare Company
who were so supportive and played a critical role
in the success of the event.
Rob Elkington and all of the staff at Arts Connect
West Midlands.
James Maiden and the rest of the staff from
Stratford-upon-Avon College who gave up their
time and expertise in supporting the event.
Will Hahn and the staff at Creative and Cultural
Skills.
The Creative Professionals:
Annelie Powell, Bruce ONeil, Dawn Harris, Deci4life,
Helana Santos, Mark Worth, Martin Bassindale,
Nathan Portlock, Phil Middleham, Ray Clenshaw,
Richard Elms and Richard Preedy.
Sebastian Barnes, Chris Cuthbert and all the team
at Acquis Media for their technical support.
Kate Green, Simon Russell and Sam Taylor for
documenting the event.
For more details about this project and our other
work go to www.creativealliance.org.uk
Contact:
Email: info@creativealliance.org.uk
Phone: 0121 753 0049