A half-day discovery fair for young people to learn more about creative careers in Winchester.
This November, during Discover Creative Careers Month we are hosting a half-day discovery fair for young people to learn more about creative careers in Winchester.
This free event will bring together professionals from across the creative industries to help young people discover the wide variety of careers available and learn more about the pathways into them. This is an opportunity to have real conversations with the people doing these jobs every day. Students can ask questions, hear personal career stories and learn about the skills and qualifications that helped others get where they are today.
Whether you are a young person, an educator, or a guardian there is something for everyone to experience and learn more about the breadth and depth of creative careers and the various ways to get there!
Wednesday 11th November at The Nutshell
Aimed at young people (11-21) and their parents, guardians and teachers, interested in learning more about creative careers. Designed to demystify creative careers and demonstrate the scope and breadth of creative career opportunities. It will also highlight opportunities to study and work in these fields in Winchester District.
1pm - 3pm - Ages 11-16. Schools bringing small groups with a specific interest in creative subjects to the space with their teachers / careers lead.
4pm – 6pm - Ages 14+. Young people can attend with parents and carers (or alone if older) after school hours.
It is free to attend but we strongly encourage people to register so we can monitor capacity.
Who will be there?
Come along and experience: sound desks, light art, light desks, live event painting, model making and more. Find out more about careers in: Advertising and Marketing, Arts and Crafts, Live Events, Design, Publishing and Writing, Theatre and more. Discover how your skills could translate into a creative career and how to sustain that career. Meet people working for:
- Discarded Nut CIO
- Play to the Crowd
- OK Standby
- Rizzoli Books
- Berkshire Printmakers
- The Salvaged Woodshop
- Creative Sparks Studio
- Constructive Minds
- Rodd
- Freelance playwrights, artists, charity chairperson, designer
Discover where you can learn more and network:
- Havant & South Downs College
- University of Winchester
- Winchester School of Art (University of Southampton)
- Southern Creative Catalyst
- RIBA Hampshire
Information for Young People
This is an opportunity for you to engage directly with individuals who are in creative careers in Winchester. To learn more about different job roles and the skills needed to support aspiration. It provides a platform to meet multiple organisations at one time and discover the types of employment available locally.
You can learn more about pathways and how people got to where they are today. You can discover education and training options to support you on your journey. This may include learning more about where you can do work experience, shadowing, placements or events.
Whether you already know you want to work in a creative field or simply curious about what opportunities exist, this event is designed to inspire, inform and broaden horizons. Many young people are interested in creative careers but don't know what jobs are available or how to get into them.
Support will be in place to help you start thinking about skills and jobs you think you might like to pursue and conversations may help you discover options you didn’t even know about!
Information for Educators
Primarily aimed at year 8 / 9 students that have an aptitude for creativity who might be thinking about what subjects to study at GCSE. This will fulfil Gatsby Benchmark 6 (Modern Work Experience), engaging in “meaningful employer-led activities to explore different industries and careers and involve active engagement with a diverse range of employers”. Including learning:
- what it is like to work in that environment
- the skills that are valued in the workplace
- workplace recruitment processes
- what it takes to be successful
Also suitable for year 10+ to explore next steps and career pathways after secondary school. An opportunity to learn about local opportunities for work experience placements and beyond.
Information for guardians
This is an opportunity for you to engage directly with individuals who are in creative careers in Winchester. A chance to understand more about the breadth of creative careers available and the pathways your young person might take to pursue these careers.
This event will help you understand how to support your creative young person and discover the places and organisations which can support you and them on their journey.
There will be signposting to national organisations and resources, utilising and promoting existing directories, ensuring you feel equipped to continue research after the event.
Why is this important?
- The economic contribution of the UK creative industries, as measured by Gross Value Added (GVA), is growing four times faster than that of the UK economy as a whole (4.6% v 1% in 2023-2024). (DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates)
- Creative industries jobs represent about 7% of total UK employment and 2.4m jobs. (Employment in DCMS sectors)
- 31% of young people aged 11-18 years old express an interest in pursuing jobs in the creative industries, but 49% do not know what skills or qualifications are needed to work in the sector. (DCMS creative careers research)
- 50% of young people in Hampshire said no to the following statement: 'You know about apprenticeships, university options and career paths'. (Children’s Commissioners Big Ambition)
- 37% of young people in Hampshire said no to the following statement: 'You know about good jobs for when you are older'. (Children’s Commissioners Big Ambition)
- 92% of residents surveyed thought we should support and encourage the creative industries. (Winchester District Cultural Strategy)
- 94% of residents surveyed thought cultural and creative activities were good for young people. (Winchester District Cultural Strategy)
What do we mean by ‘Creative Industries’
We use the DCMS definition of creative industries and hope to have representation from as many sub-sectors as possible.
- advertising and marketing
- architecture
- crafts
- design and designer fashion
- film, TV, radio and photography
- museums, galleries and libraries
- music, performing and visual arts
- publishing
- IT, software and computer services (includes video games)
