Build Back Fairer: The Creative & Cultural Skills podcast

Released in 2021, the first CCSkills podcast series focused on the theme of ‘Build Back Fairer’. We spoke to professionals from across the creative and cultural sector and heard from young people at the start of their careers, to explore the impacts and opportunities that may have been heightened by, or arisen, during the pandemic.

In this bonus episode we hear a discussion between two former apprentices, Emma Blake Morsi, a Multidisciplinary Arts Producer; and Ellen Johnson, a Project Officer at Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. The recording was made as part of our feature-length episode, Apprenticeships work for other sectors, do they work for ours?, listen here. 

Download the transcript for this bonus episode. 

Volunteering is a long-established practice in many cultural organisations, and there are numerous reasons that can motivate someone to volunteer - often social or altruistic reasons. But volunteering can also be used as a route into work.

Volunteering can build confidence and introduce skills to help people make the next step into paid employment. But are organisations in the creative and cultural industries doing enough to support this type of volunteer?

During this episode we hear from Esther Lisk-Carew, Volunteers Coordinator for the Manchester International Festival (MIF) and co-chair of the Heritage Volunteering Group in the North West and Rosie Wylie, Community Engagement Manager at Historic Environment Scotland. Throughout the episode, we also hear from Maya, Amy and Dylan, who recently volunteered at MIF 2021.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, Director of Partnerships and Delivery at Creative & Cultural Skills.

Download the transcript here

Despite being a dynamic and responsive sector in many ways, the creative and cultural industries still rate poorly for both ethnic and social diversity, even at entry-level. What is stopping the sector from better representing the wider working population and its own audiences?

Joining the discussion is Leila D’Aronville , director of Northern Roots; and Tajpal Rathore, Artistic Director & Executive Producer of Tribe Arts.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, CCSkills' Director of Partnerships and Delivery.

Download the transcript here.

Our full podcast will return in the autumn, where we will be discussing diversity in the creative sector and volunteering as a pathway to work.

In the meantime, we spoke to Izzie Hanby, Daisy Charles and Toby Sloan, who’ve recently undertaken apprenticeships at Scottish Crannog Centre, a living history museum on Loch Tay in Perthshire.

Download the transcript here.

Apprenticeships, a tool to develop much-needed occupational competence, can play a vital role in widening entry routes into the creative and cultural sector thus diversifying its workforce. If entry routes into the cultural sector should be available for all those with talent, why does the sector not make better use of Apprenticeships, which address both skills gaps in the sector and open employment opportunities to a greater section of society?

Joining the discussion is Bendy Ashfield, Apprenticeships Manager at Royal Opera House; Jakki Jeffery, Head of Faculty, Creative Industries at Edinburgh College; Emma Blake Morsi, a Multidisciplinary Arts Producer; and Ellen Johnson, a Project Officer at Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, CCSkills' Director of Partnerships and Delivery.

Download the transcript here.

In a sector rocked by the pandemic, freelancer workers have been hit hard without the structure or financial support of an organisation. Freelancers are multiskilled, resourceful, creative, passionate, adaptable, and dynamic individuals, but if they have been abandoned by the cultural sector during this time, then why should they return as the industry rebuilds?

Joining the discussion is Prema Mehta, lighting designer and founder of Stage Sight; and Sarah Shead, founder of Spin Arts.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, CCSkills' Director of Partnerships and Delivery.

Download the transcript here.

With the pandemic having a disproportionately negative effect on young people trying to build careers in the creative industries, has an already-established prejudice against hiring from disadvantaged background become even worse?

Joining the discussion is Suba Das, Artistic Director and CEO of HighTide; and Vilma Nikolaidou Associate Director, People Strategy University Arts London.

We also hear from Danielle Edmunds and Calum Macdonald, two young people who participated in the Cultural Ambition programme, and shared their perspectives on pathways into the the museum and heritage sector.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, CCSkills' Director of Partnerships and Delivery.

Download the transcript here.

Creative & Cultural Skills works to create fair and inclusive opportunities for young people within the creative and cultural sectors by raising awareness and shaping skills, education and employment best practice. We want to see the sector build back fairer and more inclusive.

In our first podcast series, we intend to speak directly to career professionals in the cultural sector, encouraging debate and giving voice to others who may not otherwise have a platform.

Joining the discussion is Catherine Ritman-Smith Head of Learning and Skills, V&A Museum of Childhood; and Alex Porter-Smith Co-founder & Head of Production at High Tide Media.

The podcast is hosted by Robert West, CCSkills' Director of Partnerships and Delivery.

Transcript available here.