The Nurturing Talent programme is for emerging artist facilitators to gain hands-on workshop experience in a range of challenging community settings. It gives six artists (five based in London, one in Manchester), the opportunity to work as a supporting artist on Create projects, learning how to apply their professional practice within different participant groups, connecting with our experienced artists, and attending tailored training days with a dedicated mentor.
Over 12 months (approximately 25 days) you will:
- Work as a supporting artist alongside Create’s professional artists to plan and deliver three or more creative arts projects (circa 18 days) with different community groups (eg: isolated older people; young/adult carers; disabled children; children looked after).
- Attend seven professional development training days, led by Create artists that focus on leadership skills, workshop planning and delivery.
- Work in pairs to design and deliver your own workshop in one of Create’s community settings.
You will develop your skills and experience as a supporting artist in challenging community settings alongside your own professional practice. Specifically you will gain:
- A developed understanding and practice of delivering high-quality workshops with disadvantaged and vulnerable people in challenging community settings, working within your own artform and, if appropriate, in cross-arts workshops.
- Experience working with at least three different participant groups.
- An understanding of how to adapt activities to be engaging and inclusive, meeting the needs of a group who may have specific and challenging life experience or support needs.
- Support and feedback from Create’s professional artists and management team both onsite and at scheduled catch up sessions, to help track your progress throughout the year.
- Development of your communication and organisational skills to ensure clarity when setting tasks and giving clear instructions.
- Development of your interpersonal skills, time management, organisational and improvisatory skills in a professional context.
- The opportunity to join Create’s professional artist pool if successfully graduating from the programme and meeting all criteria regarding skills, experience, confidence and working relationships.
- A bursary of £1,800 for the year, paid as half-day or full-day workshop fees.
Recruitment for next years’ Nurturing Talent programme will open in October 2026. More information on and details of the application process can be found here.
