Arts Apprenticeships

Here's an idea I've been having for a while, about how we can create more opportunities for apprenticeships in the arts for our region and for others. We have the connections and expertise in our group, to make it happen.

Looking at the apprenticeships for the artistic profession in the UK, I can see that although apprenticeships are available for similar professions, such as technicians, and events promoters; there doesn't seem to be courses available for theatre directors and producers:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/arts-media-and-publishing-apprenticeships

From what I have been told, the career paths to becoming directors and producers are not easy ones, and have not been clear cut. Even if they were, I still think we need to set up more opportunities for people in our region to train in backstage production to make it more accessible for young apprentices - and of course, the same goes for scholarships and bursaries for onstage performance as well.

Fortunately, we have exactly the right contacts within our LinkedIn group, to be able to set these kind of apprenticeships up:

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8342825/profile

Some of our members are involved with Theatre In Education and hence they understand the learning aspect of such an operation. Others have connections within universities, who could enable training programmes and schemes to be put together. And finally, some of our members own or manage the organisations, where places for apprenticeships could be offered.

If we co-ordinate our efforts, I know that we could actually find, plan and set up apprenticeship opportunities in at least a few of our members' organisations. You have the talent, expertise, and the connections. Any suggestions or ideas you have on this are certainly welcome.

Let's think about how we could co-ordinate our organisations' efforts to make this happen.

Best Regards

James M

Founder

What the GMTG Performing Arts Group (on Linkedin) Is About

Hi All

As we're close to reaching 50 members, I thought I should say a few words about what our group is for, and celebrate what we've done so far. GMTG Performing Arts Group, is a networking group, to allow arts professionals to connect and network online with one another. It was originally founded for members and Alumni from Birmingham University's Guild Musical Theatre Group, who will continue to play a part in it. But as many people pointed out, it would be useful to involve other artists and creative as well, to help the arts, and so I have opened this group for all who are willing to join.

Since then, many others have begun joining our group, and we now have a diverse range of artists, creative and arts enthusiasts, who can combine passion, and skill, to create many new opportunities for each other. But this group is more than just another social media group. It is also a showcase to the business community.

The reason I chose LinkedIn to host this group, is that LinkedIn is deliberately designed for business networking. Anyone who is serious about networking online usually has a LinkedIn profile: and more importantly, the kind of people looking at LinkedIn groups online, are the ones who control the funding and resources for your businesses.

Many times, I have heard the cliché that the performing arts isn't really a profession people should go into. Many of you are living proof that that simply is not true. From my work in HR, I know that a profession is a profession, no matter what it is or what it involves. All professions are hard, and all have their challenges. But that is why we build networks to support professionals in the field, and to create opportunities. This is one such group, that I hope in time, will be build into an arts network for all its members.

As well as being an online group I have been hoping to hold some events, to allow people to exchange contact details and information. I have been speaking to one of our members, Jess Swift, about a possible Q and A session,  involving members and Alumni of GMTG among others.

Also, as per the suggestions of West End Producer, Tristan Baker, I plan to invite all former leaders and organisers of GMTG - I personally want all former committee and production team members who work in the arts - to join our group, and help build this up even more.

So if you know anyone who works in the arts or entertainment industry, including members and Alumni of GMTG, then please do invite them to our group. And in the meantime, you are more than welcome to make use of this group for networking, contacts, job opportunities, resources and ideas.

Welcome one and all to the GMTG Performing Arts Group.

Best Regards

James M

Founder

Stage Directors: Unite!

At last - an organisation to stand up for professional stage directors in the UK! It always seemed unfair that there wasn't a clear career path into the profession: when surely there must be hundreds of capable creatives who could become directors. But there hasn't been any real understanding of the needs of directors (and producers), for their profession.

I am sure that Stage Directors UK will represent the profession well to the public, the government and to many others. Any directors present - please join up.

http://www.stagedirectorsuk.com/

I'm also surprised that there aren't more organisations to respresent theatre producers, choreographers, stage managers etc in the UK. While of course Equity and BECTU can represent them in general, I think more profession-specific organisations like Directors UK, would go a long way, to representing each profession, and also making the public aware of what they are about.

Q and A

Hi All

As per my invites, here s a proposal i'd like to put for both members and Alumni of the Guild Musical Theatre Group (GMTG).

Both the student committee and my fellow Alumni who specialise in engagement, have mentioned the idea of student-Alumni Q and A's: a questions and answers session, in which both members and Alumni of GMTG can get together and exchange ideas and information. I think this could actually be a very effective way for us all to network. It would be especially useful for students in the society, who are looking for a career in the performing arts.

I understand that it would be logistically impossible, for all Alumni who work in the arts industry, to take time out of their very busy schedules, and travel hundreds (or even thousands) of miles to the exact same time and place. Therefore, some of it could be done via Skype, Google Hangouts, or a similar means of online communication.

The way student-Alumni Q and A sessions normally work, I am told, is for the students to bring prepared questions to put to the Alumni for their advice on connections, finding work in the arts industry etc, within a period of time,. Like speed dating there's a time limit on each student asking each Alumni and they all swap round, or area arranged accordingly, so that everyone gets a turn.

But we could also make it a two way process. Rather than we Alumni dictating advice to the students, I reckon my fellow Alumni who work in the arts/entertainment industry, could come prepared with a list of issues and challenges from their day jobs, that they need help to solve. What students can certainly offer in return, is innovations. Every generation of students brings new ideas: and GMTG's members are engaged in new projects, showcases, concerts and competitions. They might just have some of the answers my fellow Alumni are looking for.

So that's the basic idea. Both students and Alumni involved with GMTG have suggested it. I think it's worth a try. What do you think?

Best Regards

James M