CULTURE QUARTER PROGRAMME (2010/11)

The Culture Quarter Programme (CQP) is a partnership of arts and cultural organisations based in Central London including English National Opera, Exhibition Road Cultural Group, The Hospital Club, the National Portrait Gallery, New Deal of the Mind, Royal Opera House, Somerset House, St Martin-in-the-Fields and the V&A Museum.

Between March 2010 and end of September 2011, the CQP partner employers offered 105 young people, who were formerly unemployed, the chance to gain six months paid work and training at their organisations in a range of ‘backstage’ roles. The functions covered included Arts Administration, Visitor Services, Box Office, Retail, Information Technology/Web and Conservation/Collections.

The Programme was unique in the way that it offered a range of structured training within each job, aimed at giving each participant an insight into the creative and cultural world, equipping them to embark on a successful career within the arts sector. The training included a personal development programme and a series of master classes led by experts from the creative sector. Participants also studied for an NVQ qualification relevant to their chosen area of work.

To date, nearly three quarters of those who took part in the programme have gone onto further work or training as a result of their CQP placement.
An independent review of the programme was published in July 2011, this can be downloaded here: CQP Project Review

The Culture Quarter Programme was made possible by an award from the government’s Future Jobs Fund, which concluded in September 2011.

CREATIVE JOBS PROGRAMME (2012)

We are very pleased to announce that, following the success of the Culture Quarter Programme, the Royal Opera House is launching the Creative Jobs Programme in May 2012. This new initiative will offer unemployed young people the chance to gain six months paid work at some of the organisations involved in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. There are a variety of exciting jobs on offer, including roles in admin, customer services, events, IT, and collections.

Jobs will be offered at large arts organisations such as the Royal Opera House, the V&A Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery as well as a number of smaller London based creative and cultural organisations. Exact details of which employers will be involved are still being finalised, however they will represent a diverse range of theatres, museums, galleries, production companies, event organisers and charities.

The Programme will offer each job holder a range of structured training including induction, mentoring, master classes, accredited training and job search support. Participants will undertake the Programme as a cohort, starting and finishing their jobs at the same time, building a network amongst themselves.

The scheme is being modelled on the successful Culture Quarter Programme, which was run from March 2010 to September 2011 by the Royal Opera House. The programme is being supported by Arts Council England, BP, Legacy Trust UK, and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Creative Jobs Programme partners are equal opportunities employers, who are actively seeking to employ people currently under-represented in the creative and cultural sector. This includes ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.