Make Waves and launch your creative career

We're helping the next generation of event makers and creators in Medway with our new Make Waves creative career programme.

Make Waves gives people in Medway aged 18 to 25 a foot in the door of the creative industries and help them start out on a career path like no other.  

The programme will develop skills to boost their CVs, give them opportunities to meet and talk with industry professionals. It will also give them hands-on experience of large scale arts projects in Medway, including the upcoming Light Nights festival in February 2022.Now is a great time to move into a creative career, with Medway being named as Arts Council England’s 54 Priority Places.   Bryony Farrant-Davis, Ideas Test’s Youth Development Manager says of Make Waves: 
“We’re delighted to be leading the delivery of this new programme investing in local young people and their futures at the heart of the creative industries in Medway. Working in arts and events is an exciting career path, but one that can be tricky to find ‘your way in to.’ We’re really looking forward to providing a group of local young creatives with such a sustained period of industry insight, mentoring and 121 support to put them in the driving seat as they start their creative careers.”  
Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services said: 
“We are pleased to be an important partner in the Make Waves programme which will provide young people with opportunities to break through into creative industries. Medway is home to a diverse range of creatives and this exciting project supports Medway’s cultural strategy, which is being delivered by Creative Medway, as well as our aspiration to become a Child-Friendly City, putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do. I would encourage young creatives to find out more about the programme.”
  Bryony hosted a Taster Day at Mid Kent College’s Gillingham Campus on Monday 8 November where those interested in applying could find out more about the project and sign up. If you're interested in supporting or taking part in Make Waves please contact Bryony by email bryony@ideastest.co.uk or leave a message on 07387 842524.   Make Waves is funded and supported by Creative Estuary, Medway Council, Kent County Council and Theatre 31.  
CREATIVE ESTUARY has a vision to forge a new future founded on creative energy and innovation, along the length of the Thames Estuary. The project is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and led by the University of Kent on behalf of a consortium of public sector and cultural organisations. They include the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), Kent and Essex County Councils, the Greater London Authority, 11 local authority areas represented by Thames Gateway Kent Partnership and opportunity South Essex, South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN), University of Essex, Locate in Kent and cultural organisations Metal and Cement Fields. In early 2019 the University of Kent was awarded £4.3m from the DCMS Cultural Development Fund on behalf of the partners. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport funds the Cultural Development Fund which is administered by Arts Council England.   Icon Theatre brings together local communities and professional artists to push the boundaries of where theatre happens, who it is for and how it can help people and places to grow. Co-creation is at the heart of everything Icon Theatre does, be that making large-scale immersive productions with theatre-makers and our community; running Theatre31, one of five Arts Council-funded Youth Performance Partnerships; our ongoing participatory theatre projects in schools, drop-in centres, and criminal justice settings; or professional development opportunities for teachers and artists. Icon Theatre aims to reach those who face significant socio-economic deprivation and exclusion.   About Theatre 31 Theatre31 is one five Youth Performance Partnerships in the UK funded by Arts Council England. It is a three-year programme conceived and managed by Icon Theatre. The programme is designed to inspire young people, putting them directly in the driving seat. Taking place in Medway and Sheppey, all the activities are free including youth theatres, workshops, visits to productions, technical training, careers advice, performances, and schools’ projects. Through Theatre31 artistic productions are produced and commissioned. Theatre31 is managed by Icon Theatre and is funded by Arts Council England in partnership with Medway Council, Kent County Council & ROH Bridge, with support from the Medway and Sheppey LCEPs.    

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