Three cheers to Claire Paul from the Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership, who last month delivered another hugely successful Future Creatives Careers Week.
The event gave young people across the Island the opportunity to explore creative careers through free workshops, talks, and presentations.
Record participation and expanding opportunities
Future Creatives Careers Week took place from 3rd to 7th February 2025, offering 36 different events led by cultural and creative professionals (up from 23 in 2024).
A total of 81 workshops were booked, covering primary, secondary and post-16 education.
Despite some last-minute cancellations by schools, 73 workshops went ahead, marking a sharp rise from 34 in 2024.
Exploring a range of creative industries
The week introduced students to a diverse selection of creative industries.
Workshops covered film, TV, theatre, carnival arts, visual arts, arts management, event planning, as well as museums and heritage.
Other sessions focused on sustainable fashion, game design, creative writing, jewellery design and physical performance, among many other career paths.
For many young people, this was their first chance to engage directly with professionals from these fields.
Schools and pupils engage in large numbers
A total of 27 education settings took part, including eight secondary schools and sixth forms, three SEND schools, and 16 primary schools.
The estimated number of participating pupils reached 1,902, more than doubling last year’s total of 920.
The workshops took place across 34 different locations, including schools and industry venues, helping students gain real-world experience in creative workplaces.
Positive feedback and impact on students
Teachers and students responded enthusiastically to the event.
Newchurch Primary praised the interactive music workshop, describing it as engaging for both children and staff.
The Island Free School highlighted how well-organised the event was and how much their pupils benefited from it.
Ryde Academy noted that even students who usually struggle to engage took an active role in the sessions.
Barton Primary School pointed out how the event introduced pupils to local careers they might not have considered otherwise.
Meeting career education benchmarks
Future Creatives Careers Week also helped schools meet several Gatsby Benchmarks for career education. The event linked curriculum learning to careers and provided students with direct encounters with employers, employees and higher education representatives.
Many workshops took place in real workplaces, giving students a valuable insight into potential future career paths.
Looking ahead
Organisers of Future Creatives Careers Week hope to build on this year’s success. Expanding participation and increasing engagement with more creative professionals will remain key priorities in the coming years.
By continuing to provide young people with hands-on experiences in creative fields, this important event ensures that the next generation of artists, designers and performers have the inspiration and knowledge to pursue their ambitions.
