The 2022 grant recipients of the Mo Siewcharran Fund, administered by Creative Access, are Saqi Books, The Reader and the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme. Each organisation will be taking on a paid intern from a Black, Asian or ethnically-diverse background because of the Fund.

The Fund was set up by John Seaton in loving memory of his wife, Mo, who was the director of Nielson BookData.

Read BookBrunch’s article in full here.

Heloise Wood in The Bookseller has reported the latest round of grant recipients from the Mo Siewcharran Fund, administered by Creative Access. Saqi Books, The Reader and the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme will all be taking on a paid intern from a Black, Asian or ethnically-diverse background because of the Fund.

The Fund was set up by John Seaton in loving memory of his wife, Mo, who was the director of Nielson BookData.

Read The Bookseller article here.

Creative Access has announced the first 2022 grants from the Mo Siewcharran Fund to support internships for talent from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds. The Fund grants, which are administered by Creative Access, have been awarded to three impressive organisations working to change the face of the creative industries: The Reader, a national charity working to make literature accessible to all; Saqi Books, a leading independent publisher of trade and academic books on the Middle East and North Africa and the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS), the UK’s foremost programme of paid professional development for theatre directors.

The Fund was set up in memory of former Nielsen BookData Director Mo Siewcharran, who was passionate about ensuring theatre and publishing were accessible to all, and supports internships for talent from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds, which are groups under-represented in the creative industries.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on people working in publishing and theatre. Creative Access research, conducted in May 2020 and then again in December 2021, shows financial stability has declined dramatically with just 26% of those working in publishing and 34% in theatre describing themselves as financially stable versus 55% in both sectors who had said the same in May 2020. 29% of people in theatre and 26% in publishing said the pandemic had negatively impacted their job security – 26% for those from Black, Asian or other ethnic backgrounds.

John Seaton, Mo’s husband and founder of the Fund, said, “As we come out of the pandemic, it is great to be awarding the first grants of 2022 to three organisations that are leading the way in creating a more diverse and inclusive culture in publishing and theatre. The past two years have been incredibly challenging for the sector, but we now have a real opportunity to make fundamental improvements by changing hiring practices and recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and I am very pleased that the Mo Siewcharran Fund is playing an active role in this mission.”

Josie Dobrin, CEO and founder, Creative Access, said, “It’s a privilege to partner with John in managing the Mo Siewcharran Fund and to be awarding the first grants of 2022 to three incredible organisations who share our passion to make theatre and publishing more accessible, inclusive and representative. We’re excited to see the talent coming forward to take up the internships with these organisations and the impact they will have on the future of the industry.”

The Fund is once again open for other theatre or publishing organisations wishing to support internships for those from under-represented communities. Those interested in applying should contact lucy@creativeaccess.org.uk. The deadline for the next round of applications is 1^st July 2022.

Karolina Kaminska in C21 has written about Creative Access’ new partnership with Nutopia to drive diversity in senior leadership in the TV industry. Read Karolina’s article here.

In Adele Redmond’s latest article for Arts Professional, she discusses the recent difficulties in recruiting to arts roles, which is prompting claims of a “great resignation” from the sector. She states: “New staff are demanding higher pay and more flexible working conditions than before the pandemic, leading to imbalances in some organisations.”

Redmond highlights Creative Access’ research into how under-represented groups have been affected by the pandemic, specifically that mental wellbeing is a priority for nearly two thirds (61%) of the Creative Access community and that in a snap survey we conducted last month, 96% said a four-day work week would be good for their career.

Read the article in full here.

Televisual have highlighted Creative Access and Nutopia’s new partnership, alongside National Geographic. The collaboration will address the under-representation of people from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds at senior levels in the TV industry through hiring 2 individuals working as a line producer, producer, series producer, or director level to accelerate to the next level or move into high end factual TV.

Read more about the partnership here.

Apply for the opportunity.

In Broadcast’s In Brief section, John Elmes and Alex Farber wrote: “Indie Nutopia has teamed up with Creative Access to provide opportunities to execs from black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds through its recently launched Nutopia Partnerships scheme.”

They further detailed how vital this move is by Creative Access and Nutopia: “With less than 10% of senior productions roles in the UK held by people from BAME backgrounds, Nutopia Partnerships is an accelerator programme intended to help overcome this challenge.”

Read the article here.

Ambitious Nutopia x Creative Access positive action programme offers opportunity to join the team on a new global adventure series

Award-winning production company Nutopia and Creative Access, the leading diversity social enterprise, are today launching ‘Nutopia Partnerships,’ an ambitious new collaboration to address the under-representation of people from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds at senior levels in the TV industry.

As part of the new landmark programme, Nutopia is offering a unique opportunity, funded by National Geographic, for four experienced individuals to join the team on a multi-part multi year global adventure series.

Less than 10% of senior production roles in the UK TV industry are held by people from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds, according to the Creative Diversity Network*. The Nutopia Partnerships initiative is the first programme of its kind specifically designed to tackle senior-level diversity in the industry and the first to be led by an independent production company. It is part of Nutopia’s ambitious new diversity and inclusion strategy spearheaded by CEO and Founder, Jane Root and supported by Creative Access, who work with over 450 employers across the creative industries to enable them to be more accessible, representative and inclusive through progressive recruitment, training and mentoring.

The Nutopia Partnerships will be an accelerator programme aimed at creating the next generation of creative leaders by offering a training opportunity to traditionally underrepresented groups.

From today candidates from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds, who have already taken on senior roles in TV and film. The positive action programme is designed for both the existing senior production team and the successful applicants to learn new skills and approaches. The successful candidates will receive insight and experience on the making of an episode from start to finish, under the guidance of senior leadership; deepen their leadership, financial and technical skills and have first-hand on location experience in the most challenging situations. They will bring new insights to our senior team, driving the next level of creative aspiration across Nutopia. To find out more and apply, click here.

“While we are seeing progress being made to address diversity at entry-level in the TV industry, the lack of diversity at senior levels remains a serious and concerning issue and is a real barrier to the retention and progression of the new, more diverse junior talent coming in to the industry,” says Josie Dobrin, founder and CEO, Creative Access.

“This new, industry-leading collaboration between Nutopia and Creative Access is designed to specifically target this issue. We are very proud to be working with Nutopia, as well as National Geographic to drive meaningful change in diversity at senior levels in the industry,”

“At Nutopia to achieve the next level of creative aspiration we need to invite people in and embed different voices and experiences in our core. We are proud to partner with National Geographic and Creative Access on the Nutopia Partnerships,” says Jane Root, founder and CEO, Nutopia.

“Our aim is to create a lasting legacy within factual television across senior levels. There’s much work to be done, and we will continue to learn as we make progress through our most comprehensive initiative to date.”

Who is eligible to apply?

Candidates applying should be currently working at Line Producer/Producer / Series Producer / Director level or similar and looking to further progress to the next level or make the move into high end factual TV.  The Nutopia Partnerships are designed to give the successful candidates space to bring their creativity into the world of factual adventure.

As a Nutopia Partner they will embark on a 12-month programme that will take them through all the processes of senior leadership in a multi-part global factual series, from development of the episode story, production on location with a large crew and then edit oversight.

In addition, they will also be provided with a curriculum of leadership coaching, a bespoke training plan with focus areas for individual development and a mentor, to give them the skills and experience to make the move into a senior role in the premium factual genre. They will be funded to participate at a rate commensurate with current salary.

The ‘Nutopia Partnerships’ will run over two years. There will be four Nutopia Partners who each join the team for 12 months and we are looking for people to join the 2022 cohort. 

*Source: UK Race and Ethnic Diversity: a deep dive into Diamond data, Creative Diversity Network, October 2020

FURTHER APPLICATION DETAILS

The Nutopia Partnership project will run over two years. There will be four Nutopia Partners in total, completing 1 year each and recruitment is opening from February 10^th for year one.

The team particularly want to hear from adaptable and collaborative individuals with the following knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Demonstrable experience at mid- senior level, Line Producer, Producer, Series Producer
• The desire to learn more about the whole process of making high-end factual entertainment TV.
• Proven creative leadership
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to maintain key relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Confidence to think analytically and make effective decisions in fast changing environments.
• A commitment to this project for 12 months with an interest in building a career in factual documentary.

To apply

Please upload your CV & covering letter as a single document to Creative Access by 3^rd, March 2022.

The partnership has been covered in Televisual, Broadcast and C21 Media.

iStock Awards $20,000 to Four Emerging Commercial Photographers, Videographers and Illustrators Globally as Part of Inaugural Inclusion Grant

In partnership with four organizations working directly with underrepresented communities in the U.S., UK, LATAM and Australia, iStock awards much-needed financial support to four creators.

iStock, a leader in affordable visual communications for the creative, entrepreneurial, student and SMB communities, today announces the four creative commercial artists chosen to receive its inaugural Inclusion Grant, designed to support them as they endeavor to draw attention to underrepresented communities through their work. The grant was open to commercial photographers, videographers and illustrators based in the U.S., UK, LATAM and Australia and is being awarded in partnership with U.S.-based organization Black Women Photographers, UK-based organization Creative Access, Fotografas Latam and Australia Council for the Arts.

“This grant demonstrates iStock’s continued commitment to support diverse creators around the world, both financial and in terms of mentorship, as they seek to tell stories around their communities and ultimately take their commercial careers to the next level,” said Claudia Marks, Senior Art Director, iStock. “To that end, we’re thrilled to say that our four recipients from the U.S., UK, Columbia and Australia are each incredible storytellers in their own right, creating visuals which the world needs to see—and that’s something we’re eager to make happen alongside our partners.”

The four recipients include:

• U.S.: Malaika Muindi, Film-maker. Malaika creates short videos, coupled with portraits to connect her audience to varied people, communities, and experiences that may be foreign or familiar.
• UK: Mathushaa Sagthidas, Photographer. Mathushaa’s work often examines her identity – Tamil Eelam ethnicity and British nationality, which is reflected through traditions, history and fashion photography.
• LATAM: Natalia Ortiz Mantilla, Photographer. Natalia’s work framed in the understanding of the relationship between communities and the inhabited ecosystem, being each territory a source of memory and identity, connected to topics such as resilience, resistance, social justice and gender approach.
• Australia: Marley Morgan, Photographer. Marley, a member of the Wiradjuri, Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay nations, highlights the beauty of First Nations Aboriginal families with a heavy focus on Aboriginal women, motherhood and culture.

“Getting this funding means so much to me for so many reasons – one of which being that I’m able to bring life to a project revolving around South Asian stories and perspectives, a concept that I’ve been wanting to create since before the start of the pandemic. This project will tell various South Asian stories about our beautiful cultural differences and share personal stories to teach those outside of the community that might not know much about the various cultures, creative and celebrations within this Asian continent. I’m super grateful to have this support to be able to progress my project and practice,” said Mathushaa Sagthidas, photographer, UK.

“The pandemic and decline in creative industry funding have disproportionately impacted people in the creative sector from under-represented communities, which is why this Getty/iStock grant is such an important programme. We are so pleased to partner with Getty/iStock to award the inaugural grant to Mathushaa to support her important and inspiring work and that of the wider creative community,” says Josie Dobrin, founder and CEO, Creative Access.

Each of the four grants was judged independently by the following judges, in collaboration with the iStock art team:

• U.S.: Polly Irungu, Founder of Black Women Photographers, and Barbara DuMetz, pioneer in commercial photography
• UK: Josie Dobrin, CEO & Co-Founder of Creative Access, and Vanessa Martins, Freelance photographer
• LATAM: Lorena Velasco and Fernanda Pitaño, Co-Founders, Fotografas Latam, and Cristina Otero, commercial and fine art photographer
• Australia: Franchesca Cubillo, Executive Director of First Nations Arts & Culture, and Patricia Adjei, Head of First Nations Arts & Culture Sector Development, both with Australia Council

In addition to the $5,000 prize, each recipient has been given the opportunity to license their winning work on the iStock website at a 100 percent royalty rate. The iStock Inclusion Grant is part of Getty Images’ wider grants program which has awarded US$1.8 million to photographers and filmmakers worldwide since its inception. Please visit Getty Images Grants to learn more.

Creative Access, the leading social enterprise in progressive career development and support, and McLaren Racing today announced the first 25 people from the creative industries to receive funding through the Creative Access x McLaren Racing Career Development Bursary, which launched in Autumn 2021, as part of McLaren Racing Engage.

The Bursary is a new fund aimed at supporting talent from under-represented communities who aspire to work, or further their career, in the creative economy, but who are currently held back from doing so because of their financial status.

The bursary received over 200 applications showing how funding is urgently need to support people from under-represented groups in progressing their creative careers.

Each successful applicant will receive a grant of between £250 and £1000, which must be used to enable them to progress in their chosen creative career. The majority of applications were to fund driving lessons, with applicants citing being able to drive as critical to break into or work in the film industry as filming locations are often in remote areas. Funding was also requested for:

• Essential equipment such as cameras, lighting and photo editing software
• New laptops – many applicants talked about trying to edit films or create content using dated or broken laptops
• Re-location costs
• Training courses

Erica, a documentary filmmaker from Glasgow was awarded funding to purchase a laptop as her existing one is 6 years old, no longer fit for purpose and holding back her progression within filmmaking. She commented: “Receiving the bursary has been immensely beneficial to me as a documentary filmmaker – I’m excited to put the fund to good use in supporting my creative audio-visual work this year.”

Jordan, from London, needed funding to enable him to launch his creative freelancing career, he says: “Receiving this bursary has honestly been a switch up for myself, it’s now put me in a position of me being able to support my own visions and bring my creativity to life. It’s sparked a motivation within myself that I didn’t have prior. I’ve faced some levels of imposter syndrome along the way, this a big step into tackling this and I have Creative Access to thank for it.”

Aisha, an aspiring filmmaker currently studying in Edinburgh, was awarded funding for vital equipment to help her break into the industry. She says: “This bursary means I’ve been given a chance, by providing me with equipment I would not otherwise to have access to. For this, I’m so grateful, and excited to start on my journey in filmmaking.”

Research carried out by Creative Access to coincide with the Bursary launch, with more than 1,900 people working in, or looking to pursue, a career in the creative industries, revealed the crucial role the bursary will play in enabling people from under-represented groups to access and progress in the sector:

• Over three quarters (77%) have not applied for a job due to the associated high living or commuting costs
• A third (35%) have refused job offers because of financial obstacles
• Almost half (47%) of people surveyed said financial barriers have ‘greatly’ impacted their career progression.

The Bursary is the first initiative from the Creative Access and McLaren Racing partnership, which was formed in June this year under the McLaren Racing Engage alliance, which aims to diversify talent in motorsport.

Josie Dobrin, CEO of Creative Access says: “We received an overwhelming number of applications for our first Career Development Bursary showing how critical funding is to enable people from under-represented communities to access careers and progress in the creative economy. Funding to purchase a laptop or camera equipment or driving lessons can make all the difference to someone looking to break into our sector and develop their skills or even reach the location where they have been offered a role. Whilst we are pleased to be able to support these 25 applicants, the response we received and our recent research shows how we need to be doing more to support people with funding – as well as career opportunities – to improve representation and inclusion.” 

Rebecca Constable, Director, People Experience, McLaren Racing, said: “We’re thrilled to be helping 25 individuals with this bursary. We hope this funding will remove the barriers which might have otherwise prevented them from enhancing their skills, obtaining much-needed equipment, and ultimately reaching their creative career goals.

“Seeing such a high volume of applicants makes it clear just how vital the funding is to so many people and we strongly believe that financial status should not be something that holds back the next generation of creative talent. We look forward to seeing how the successful applicants develop and progress in their careers and we hope to be able to support many more people on their journeys through further McLaren Racing Engage initiatives, in the future.”

Additional results from the Creative Access survey include:

• 76% of 18 – 25 year olds and 79% of 26 – 35 year-olds have not applied for roles due to financial pressures and 69% of 18 – 25 year olds have not taken up a role
• The most common financial pressures impacting career progression are cited as unaffordable living, commuting and relocation costs – this increases to 61% for those from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds
• 80% of people who identified as having disabilities did not apply for a role and 59% did not take up a job offer because of financial barriers
• Financial status also prevented 82% of people from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds from applying for roles and 58% from taking up a job offer

About Creative Access

Creative Access is a leading social enterprise combining an unrivalled network of talent from communities under-represented in the creative economy, with progressive career support and development. Our mission is to enable people from communities that are under-represented to access, progress and reach leadership in publishing, film and TV, music, the arts, theatre and beyond. Since it was founded in 2012, Creative Access has place 2,194 individuals in paid internships; supported 58,773 candidates with employability skills; set up mentoring for 2,261 young people and delivered 3,319 hours of inclusive employer training.

About McLaren Racing: McLaren Racing was founded by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966, since then McLaren has won 20 Formula 1 world championships, more than 180 Formula 1 grands prix, the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt and the Indianapolis 500 three times. McLaren Racing currently competes in Formula 1 globally and INDYCAR in the US. 

The team will contest the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, and the 2022 INDYCAR Series with Arrow McLaren SP drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. McLaren was the first F1 team to be certified carbon neutral ten years ago and has successfully retained the Carbon Trust Standard Award, most recently in February 2021. They were also the first team to be awarded the FIA Institute’s Environmental Award in 2013, which they have consistently maintained at three-star level.

In 2022, McLaren Racing will enter a new category of motorsport when it enters a team into Extreme E, the innovative all-electric off-road racing series that highlights the impact of climate change.

About McLaren Racing Engage: In June 2021, McLaren Racing launched McLaren Racing Engage, a strategic alliance with four expert partners to drive forward a programme of collaborative initiatives to diversify talent in motorsport. The four partners are: Women’s Engineering Society (WES); EqualEngineers; The Smallpeice Trust; and Creative Access.

The alliance will drive a shared agenda to: 

• Promote STEM and F1 as an accessible vocation to under-represented and under-privileged groups
• Foster a diverse and inclusive culture within McLaren’s workforce and communities by providing accessibility to young people and under-represented groups
• Advance meaningful and sustained change for McLaren Racing as an employer, and F1 as a sport and industry

McLaren Racing Engage will advance the team’s diversity, equality and inclusion agenda as part of its broader sustainability programme, including its commitment to F1’s WeRaceAsOne platform.

Ayo Ogunshakin was a trainee researcher through Creative Access at the BBC in 2018. She then found an opportunity working as a storyliner on Coronation Street via our website. Talking to Prospects, Ayo shares her advice for breaking into the TV industry and gives an insight into the day to day challenges and highlights of her role.

Read here.

Watch here.

The article showcases statements from publishing’s leading figures including Stephen Page, executive chair of Faber, Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House, Anthony Forbes-Watson, managing director of Pan Macmillan, David Shelley, CEO at Hachette, Perminder Mann, CEO of Bonnier and CEO of Curtis Brown, Jonny Geller, emphasising Creative Access’ achievements over the past 10 years.

They highlight Creative Access’ ‘trailblazing’ role in changing the landscape of publishing through placing 550 people from under-represented groups in paid internships in the book industry. Creative Access has also helped 8,500 people in their searches for publishing jobs.

Read in full here.