Young city creatives thrive on new careers support

With Wales’ creative industries sector flourishing, Swansea Council’s cultural services team is strengthening links between business and young talent.

This was illustrated by a recent creative industry careers day at the council’s city centre Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. 

Cabinet member Elliott King said: “We want to help young people thrive in Wales’ fast-growing creative sector.

“Our cultural services officers aim to open the eyes of young people as to the possibilities out there – and to show the sector that there’s a huge talent pool in Swansea.

“The world of work can seem daunting and complex but the fact is that young people from all backgrounds across Swansea have the passion, energy and interests that can be really valuable to the creative industries.

“In film and TV alone there’s a need for everybody from plumbers to set designers and from animators to costumer designers.

“The Glynn Vivian’s ongoing His Dark Materials exhibition helps to show how the nation’s creative sector is stronger than ever.”

The council’s cultural services team uses social media and its own network of partnerships to reach out to creative young people looking for work in the creative industries.

Successes so far have included a paid internship opportunity run in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and a digitisation scheme that’s due to team up young volunteers with Fusion and Swansea Libraries.

The Glynn Vivian runs monthly free get-togethers known as Art Force. These sessions see young people explore a range of creative disciplines.

There’s also a series of Young Art Force sessions for school-aged children who are mostly home educated.

During the gallery’s hugely successful exhibition illustrating the creative skills that helped make Wales-made His Dark Materials a smash hit TV series, council officers have hosted three creative events with industry organisation Screen Alliance Wales and the Fusion Programme, an initiative delivered in Swansea through the council’s cultural services team.

The recent creative industry careers day at the Glynn Vivian saw Screen Alliance Wales and Swansea-based guest speaker Simon Parton offer tips on how to start out in the film, TV and music industry.

Attendees aged 14 and over were inspired by professionals to explore and develop skills in areas such as virtual reality and biomechanics, with a key focus being the varied career paths in the film and TV industry.

Information included details about grants and funding sources, tips on generating income, guidance on portfolio building and advice on social media and marketing.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)