Cultural Producers Programme
Transform your passion into profession with Creative Newham's paid training programme
Our Cultural Producers programme offers six months (part-time) in-depth training and development to help you enter the arts, heritage, health or environment sectors as a producer ready to put on a range of creative events or programming in the local community.
As one of the Cultural Producers on the programme, you will build up skills and knowledge through:
- workshops and training delivered by industry experts covering topics from turning ideas into reality, managing budgets and reaching target audiences
- mentoring and coaching
- placements in a local organisation where you will gain hands-on experience working on real events and activities in a community setting
- opportunity to put on your own event as a group at a local festival
The programme is free and open to Newham residents aged 18-30 who have worked or volunteered in any cultural or arts-related organisation, and who have the passion and drive to pursue a career in this field.
You will be paid the London Living Wage for your time participating in the programme.
Applications are now closed for this year’s programme. Applications for next year’s programme, which starts in early Summer 2025, will open in Spring 2025. Watch this space for details.
What does a Cultural Producer do?
A Cultural Producer makes things happen in a range of industries, including the cultural sector and increasingly in non-arts related sectors such as health and environment. They are the people who pull the strings behind the scenes, collaborating with artists, technical staff, marketing teams and others to bring cultural events and programmes of all kinds to life. Cultural Producers work in organisations of all sizes, often in local community settings.
Cultural Producers are all-rounders, so training to be one means developing a broad range of skills, including personal skills such as communication, creativity, resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure!
Is the programme for me?
The Cultural Producer Programme is open to 18-30 year old Newham residents who have worked or volunteered in any cultural or arts-related organisation, and who have the passion and drive to pursue a career in this field.
The aim of this project is to empower individuals from the local community to become the next generation of cultural leaders in the borough. We particularly encourage applications from people underrepresented in these industries – including those from the global majority, those with disabilities, and those with socio-economic difficulties – as we believe it’s important that the Cultural Producers are representative of the diverse communities that make up Newham.
Testimonials from our alumni Cultural Producers (pilot programme 2022-23):
"The programme was exceptional and really did the job of making us into cultural producers."
"The combination of classroom learning, the placement, and mentoring gave a very solid overview of the industry."
"I’m more willing to apply for producer roles now … I feel I could apply for those jobs whereas I didn’t really feel like that before.
"I believe I am a Cultural Producer now, so I act like one."
If you would like to find out more about the programme, or how we can support you with your application, contact us at creativenewham@uel.ac.uk
Easter workshop
Join us for our free upcoming workshop to meet new people, learn creative skills and get a taste of what it will be like on the Cultural Producers Programme!
Project Ubuntu (17-19 year-olds), dates TBC
Project Ubuntu is a unique, inspirational programme exploring how culture, creativity and collaboration can play a part in tackling some of the most challenging issues facing society and our lives today. Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'. It reminds us that 'I am what I am because of who we all are', and this will be the guiding principle of the programme which will consist of daily creative activities encouraging you - individually and together as a group - to think about:
- who you are now
- who you want to become
- how you might get there
- what obstacles might be getting in your way
- how you can start seeing those challenges as opportunities to improve
This programme will encourage you to find out more about yourself and your community and can support your future application to our Cultural Producers programme (a six month paid training opportunity).
This is a Creative Newham programme, managed and delivered by UEL’s School of Arts and Creative Industries.
This programme is funded and supported by
