Arts Emergency

Since February, I’ve been volunteering as a Mentor with Arts Emergency, a fantastic charity that helps young people into higher education and the cultural industries by offering them networking and work opportunities.

They operate across the country, opening doors and breaking down barriers for the disadvantaged.

Whilst working with Arts Emergency, I’ve been remotely meeting and working with a young aspiring filmmaker who’s looking to kick start a career in the creative industries. 

We meet once a month, and discuss their goals, progress and their aspirations for the future.

The mentoring experience has been absolutely fantastic so far! It’s definitely been eye-opening, and has made me reflect on my own 20 or so year journey into film making and the creative industries. From picking up a Hi-8 camera and making silly sketches with friends, to working on TV series, branded content and international events. 

I feel extremely lucky to have worked on such a wide range of incredible projects, and to have had my own fantastic career mentors. 

Now, in a time when there is such uncertainty in the creative industries, with the use of A.I. tools raising concerns about human jobs, and opportunities seemingly becoming increasingly closed off for young people, (especially from working class backgrounds), I feel as though it’s important to encourage young people aspiring to get into the creative industries.

Let them know that they are able to make it, that they are capable of building that career and that their skills are valid and valuable, especially in a world that needs creative skills more than ever before. 

I’ll end on this embarrassing old photo of me when I was 16, during the college days. A German film company were in Exeter, dressing the street as London for the purposes of the shoot. At the time, it was really exciting to see a real, professional production in action and the director let me, and others, sit in the chair for the pictures.

Looking back 17 years on, trust me, if the guy below can make a go of it in the creative industries and make a living, you can too!

(Please believe me when I say the pose was supposed to be parody!)

I would encourage any of my creative friends and colleagues to check out Arts Emergency.  

Check them out at www.arts-emergency.org

So that wraps it up for this blog! Thanks for reading this far, and we’ll see you in the next one!