From Monday 18th to Friday 22nd November, schools and colleges across the country participated in Creative Careers Week. The week is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn about the opportunities available to them in the creative industries, as well as enabling them to enrich their learning.
To celebrate this week, Alton College opened its doors for numerous companies to talk to students about the sector, as well as providing a variety of workshops for students to take part in.
Alton College refectory hosted a Creative Careers Fair, giving students the opportunity to talk to some experts in a variety of creative fields
The Fair was attended by Open Access Arts, a charity dedicated to transforming the creative industries into a more socially inclusive setting, with a current focus on those with dementia. From outreach programmes to collaborations with The Globe Theatre, Open Access Arts is a real trailblazer for accessibility in the industry.
For Alton students thinking about pursuing a creative course in Higher Education, the University of Creative Arts (UCA) was also in attendance, with a spokesperson for them saying:
“It’s really important to get the word out to young people that there are so many creative options at university. It’s a great chance for students to find themselves whilst also engaging with a creative subject that they are passionate about.”
Also in attendance was Wey Valley Radio (101.1FM), a station with very close ties to HSDC. WVR offers work experience every June for students with interests in music and media, a programme that has been extremely popular for Alton College in particular.
Peer Productions also had a stand at the Careers Fair. They offer fully-funded, free-of-charge gap years of actor training for 18-24 year olds, a fantastic opportunity for aspiring actors to develop their skills before enrolling in drama school. Peer Productions focuses heavily on underprivileged areas, promoting acting’s accessibility to those who wouldn’t be able to afford this training otherwise.
Careers In The Arts also had a massive impact on Alton’s promotion of Creative Careers Week, running creative workshops at the College throughout the day as well as having a stand at the Careers Fair. These workshops covered Theatre Design, Directing and Outdoor Arts, and were taught by experts in the field, including Becca Chadder, Resident Director of Hamilton’s UK & Ireland Tour.
A spokesperson for Careers In The Arts said:
“It was really encouraging to see so many young people getting involved with the workshops today. One of the best ways to enrich and inspire a student’s education is through practical, creative sessions like this, and that’s what Creative Careers Week is all about!”