Careers in culture: everything you need to know
We round up the best insights from our expert panel event
Finding a job after university can be no mean feat — even without the added pressure of finding one in the cultural sector. It’s no secret that the sector is pretty saturated with fierce competition, but it’s not all doom and gloom for anyone aspiring to work in the sector after graduation.
In fact, the creative industries are growing at more than 5x the rate of the UK economy as a whole — combine that with some professional insight, and you might just bag that dream job sooner than you once thought.
Keep reading for some pearls of wisdom;
Meet the panel
Jon Clatworthy, Director at Lapworth Museum
After completing his A-Levels, Jon briefly worked for the Department of Employment before completing a Geology degree and MSc in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. He has since spent over 20 years at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, initially as an Assistant Curator, progressing to Curator and then Director. As Director of the Museum, he is responsible for the strategic development of the museum and its general management.
Steffi Earle, Trusts and Grants Manager, Birmingham Hippodrome
Steff studied English Literature and Classical Literature and Civilisation at the University of Birmingham. After securing an impact internship through the University, she started her fundraising career at Get Grants. She then took a year out to travel around Canada before returning to the UK to work in fundraising roles. She joined Birmingham Hippodrome in 2018 and is responsible for the trusts and grant fundraising strategy and applications. She is also a non-executive director of the Open Doors Project CIC, which is a small not-for-profit organisation providing outdoor opportunities for children and young people with special needs and learning disabilities in Birmingham.
Will Jackson, Artistic Director, Quick Duck Theatre
Will graduated in Drama and Theatre Arts in 2017. He is currently under commission from the Bush Theatre, as one of their six emerging writers, and BBC Arts, as one of their new creatives. He co-founded Quick Duck Theatre in 2018, making interactive shows with a fun and comic twist to create live experiences. He is also an Associate Artist of the National Youth Theatre and has worked for organisations including the English Touring Opera, KIT Theatre, Birmingham REP and the Helen Bamber Foundation. Will was also recently named as a Rising Comic Star by Attitude magazine.
Charlotte Kulidzan, Creative Intern, Roundhouse Birmingham (National Trust)
Charlotte graduate in 2012 with a degree in History. Whilst at university, she worked as a student ambassador for the History Department and starting a paid internship for Roundhouse Birmingham in October 2019. As a Creative Intern, Charlotte helps develop their visitor program and organises their displays and conducts research in preparation for their opening in the summer.
Tom Nelson, Head of Community, Beatfreeks Arts
Tom graduated in Fine Arts in 2015 and since gained experience in sales and project management roles, leading to a career with Beatfreeks Arts (a collective of companies using creativity to provide platforms for act activists and entrepreneurs). His role involves the development of creative, proactive and insightful ways to engage 16 to 30 year-olds in the wider community, in order to inspire them to improve their lives and the lives of those around them.
Sadie Newman, General Manager, BE Festival
Sadie graduated with a degree in American Studies at the University of Sheffield, where she has spent 20 years gaining experience in administration and operations in the arts and culture sectors within the West Midlands. In her current role, Sadie is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the financial and operational structures and systems for BE Festival, supporting the Directors, artistic programs, and education work. Sadie has also produced and toured her own Studio work ‘Between the Two’ and is also a Trustee of Multistory in West Bromwich.
The Job Search
With a wide range of roles/industries and organisations within the arts and culture sector, the job search can be hard to navigate. Here are some key places our panel find a great place to start;
A lot of organisations have little to no budget to spend on recruitment, so make sure you follow people that work in organisations you’re interested in as a lot of roles will be shared through social media.
Arts Council England
They provide a fantastic round-up of opportunities in the sector, these can include short/long-term and paid/unpaid opportunities.
The MAC in Birmingham
Keep an eye on their website and social media because they’re always advertising volunteering roles.
Roundhouse
An open campaign for volunteers which has some great public speaking opportunities — which look great on your CV!
Careers Network
Book an appointment with a specialist Careers Adviser or Internship Officer, and get helpful advice and support. They’ve also got key contacts within the industries and will know about any relevant opportunities coming up in the local area. You can also search for opportunities using the careers database ‘Careers Connect.’
Beatfreeks
This is a residency scheme that creates a bespoke programme to suit your individual needs.
Experience Arts Internships Scheme
Keep an eye out for the University's arts internships, for any students in the College of Arts and Law or Liberal Arts. These are great opportunities that run each year, providing you with a range of paid internship opportunities over the summer.
Application Tips & Tricks
Tailor, Tailor, Tailor
More often than not, you’re going to be applying for a number of roles at the same time. Don’t fall into the trap of firing off the same application each time— tailor your CV/application/covering letter to that specific job. Think about the job description, the company, and their values. It takes some time, but it will pay off!
If you need some extra support, pop along to one of our workshops and use our online CV Checker.
Transferrable Skills
Don’t underestimate your skills and experiences — break down each experience (even your hobbies) and think about what skills are involved. For example, Tom (Beatfreeks Arts) did some retail and community work before he started working in the arts sector, but he was able to draw on those transferrable skills which got him the role.
Be the S.T.A.R of the show
Remember to use the STAR technique when you’re answering any interview questions. Explain the situation, describe what the task involved, talk through the actions you took, and summarise the overall result.
Proof Read!
It’s all too easy to fire off your application once you’ve spent a good few hours slogging over an application, but it’s crucial that you spend the time proof-reading. Tools like Grammarly can make it really easy, but also consider asking a friend or family member to give it a final once over.
Content is king (as long as it’s concise)
Keep it short, sweet and interesting because chances are the employer will have to read hundreds of CVs. One page is fine and just focus on quantifying your successes and be specific about your achievements.
Try not to make it too generic, think about some unique experiences that you can include — it’s all about that Unique Selling Point (USP).
We’ve got lots of tools and support that can help you with the process, so do make sure you make full use of this.
Dream big
A great tip from Will (QuickDuck Theatre) is to save the job description of a job that you want in ten years' time and then look at the skills and experiences required. Then look at roles and opportunities which will provide you with those skills and experiences.
You could also search for professionals on LinkedIn who are working in your dream role and have a look at what they’ve done to get there — maybe even reach out and see if they’ll be your mentor.
Don’t underestimate the power of the internship
Unlike many sectors, gaining work experience or completing an internship(s) is vital if you want to be successful. It’s a sector that relies heavily on word of mouth, where organisations will liaise with each other about who to hire and who to avoid, so by making a good impression at the junior level, you considerably improve your chances.
Most organisations won’t offer a formal internship programme unlike sectors such as law and finance, but it is always worth reaching out to organisations you’re interested in working with because more often than not, they’ll be able to offer you some experience, which can often lead to a permanent role.
If you need a little more guidance and support in finding an internship, do reach out to your College’s Internship Officer, who can provide some helpful tips and support.
