Ruaidhri Ryan, Assistant Online Content Producer, Picture This

“The scheme has been enormously proactive at ensuring all its participants are networked and familiar with one another, passing on opportunities and sharing experiences. The opportunity the scheme offers: to gain immediate, paid, experience in an arts organisation after University is second to none.”

Oliver Sykes, Assistant Producer, Contact Manchester

“I've had the pleasure and privilege of working as an Assistant Producer for Contact in Manchester since gaining my placement through the Creative Bursaries Scheme in February. Considering only three months earlier I was delighted to get a temporary position working on a production line as a Factory Operative in Chapel-en-le-Frith, this whole experience seems nothing short of magical.”

Alan Kemp, Digital and Online Administrator, Aldeburgh Music

“Back in October 2010, as a recent graduate I was very keen to find my first job and came across the same hurdles everywhere I went. The classic catch-22 situation of not being able to get a job due to lack of experience, and not having a job to get the experience required. I felt like I was running around in circles until I spotted the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries Scheme job advertised for Digital and Online Administrator at Aldeburgh Music. The role was specifically for a graduate like myself and would harness all of the skills that I’d learnt at University, whilst also providing me with a whole new set of marketing skills and experience in a professional arts establishment.”

Alix Manning, Education Associate Practitioner, Royal Shakespeare Company

“Being part of the RSC’s young company I’ve had so many great opportunities, such as working with international artists and meeting the Queen, which was a very surreal experience and one I won’t ever forget.  I was given the chance to attend rehearsals for the new production of Macbeth, directed by Michael Boyd, the Artistic Director for the RSC. This completely blew my mind – not only a chance to work on major and innovative RSC projects, but to be given the opportunity to work with Michael Boyd and the company was a dream come true.

“Getting here has been a struggle though. I studied for my BTEC and Foundation Degree in a small midlands town called Burton and then topped it up to a BA at Sheffield for a year while trying to find my way to something bigger and better – which eventually I did when I found out about the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries scheme.”

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