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Two young people sit at a reception desk that has 'Welcome' written in white font along the front. The desk is inside a glass walled building.
Two young people sit at a reception desk that has 'Welcome' written in white font along the front. The desk is inside a glass walled building.

Work Experience

Apply now

Are you aged between 15-18 and interested in pursuing a career in the arts sector? Apply now to be a part of the Sunderland Culture 2025 creative work experience programme.

At Sunderland Culture, we are passionate about providing opportunities for young people with ambitions to pursue a career in the arts and cultural sector. Our Creative Work Experience programme provides an innovative insight into the cultural world and gives young people the opportunity to engage with professionals working directly in creative industries.

Over four days, you will experience what it’s like to be in a creative workplace. You will learn about working in the cultural sector as a freelance or employed professional. And you will learn more about the skills applicable to creative workplaces.

We are currently accepting applications for the following:

  • Easter: Tuesday 22 – Friday 25 April 2025
  • Summer: Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 July 2025

Who are we looking for?

The young people selected will be passionate, positive and looking to develop a possible career in the creative industries.

For each of our work experience periods, we will be looking for up to six young people to join us.

You must be aged 15-18 to apply and you must live in Sunderland or attend a Sunderland school.

Young people must be able to commit to all four days of the programme.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under represented in the creative industries – particularly individuals who experience physical, mental or social barriers to accessing the arts.

While we will consider all applications, our work experience placements are supported by our Culture Start programme and as such, priority will be given to those who meet one or more of our Essential Criteria:

  • Eligible for free school meals
  • Live in a low-income household
  • Have a long-term health condition or disability
  • Have experience of the care system (including kinship care)
  • Young carer
  • In receipt of financial support from college or sixth form (i.e. travel support, free meals, childcare support)

We also welcome your application if you meet one or more of the criteria in our Additional Criteria:

  • Have an Education, Health and Care Plan in place
  • Have Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability
  • Live with a lone/single parent
  • Part of a family household with three or more children
  • Part of a family with a baby under one
  • Part of a family where my mother is aged under 25
  • Have recently arrived in the UK and English is an additional language
  • Young parent
  • Have experience of the criminal justice system
  • Have experience extenuating circumstances

What will we offer?

During the four-day programme, we will give you a full introduction to the work that we do. We’re a friendly bunch and you will have on-hand support throughout the placement.

There will be a full programme of activities that will enable you to develop your skills, build your confidence and learn more about the variety of career opportunities available in the cultural sector.

We’re here to listen too! About your ideas, your insights and your aspirations for the future. Your voice matters to us. Throughout your placement we’ll encourage you to give your opinion freely and provide feedback to ensure you get the most out of your time with us. This also helps us to make sure that the programme we offer is right for future placements.

We are able to provide support for travel to and from the venues if you need it. Please let us know in the form if you require this and we will be in touch to organise travel if your application is successful.

Lunch will be provided on each day of the placement.

If you have any additional needs, or if there is anything we can do to better support you in your time with us, let us know in your application form.

 

Access Information

All of our venues are accessible, you can find out more using the links below:

Arts Centre Washington

National Glass Centre

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

 

Key Information

  • The programme will be held over the course of four days. When completing your application, you will be able to choose from two available dates – Easter or Summer.
  • Timetabled activities will run from 10am – 4pm each day. You will be expected to arrive 15 minutes before each programme day begins
  • You will be expected to make your own way to and from daily sessions across all cultural venues
  • We will need to keep a record of your address, school attended, emergency contact, any relevant medical/dietary information and how you will be getting to sessions each day (i.e. independent travel or collected/dropped off)
  • Your information will be held securely in line with our privacy policy
  • You will be expected to adhere to Sunderland Culture’s Staff Code of Conduct, Risk Assessment and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
  • Ahead of your work experience, you will be invited to attend a one-hour induction session with other successful participants. This will be online and dates/times will be confirmed in due course
  • Culture Start is working with the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland as an evaluation and learning partner for this project. As part of this, we will share anonymised data about our applicants with them for the purposes of this research. In addition, information on successful applications will be shared with the research team. Successful applicants will be asked to take part in evaluation activity, such as filling in a survey or speaking to one of the research team. Further information and consent for this will be shared with successful applicants in due course

If you have any access or learning requirements, please let us know in your application form, outlining how best we can support you and accommodate your needs throughout your placement.

Please note that we only have a limited number of work experience opportunities available and we are not able to offer places to all applicants. however, we will contact all applicants to advise you of the status of your application.

What can you expect?

You will be given real-life work experience, tasks and insights at each of our Sunderland Culture venues – Arts Centre Washington, National Glass Centre, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.

Some examples of activities involved:

  • Exploring the basics of curating an exhibition
  • Introduction to theatre
  • Technical lighting and sound design
  • Box office and ticketing
  • Venue tours
  • Glass blowing demonstration
  • Cultural tour of some of Sunderland’s creative industries in Sunniside
  • Staff and artist insights
  • Cultural/creative live tasks and challenges
  • Independent research
  • Creative CV/portfolios

How to apply

To apply, complete and submit the online application form

If you are experiencing issues, require support in completing your form or would like to complete the form in a different format, please email vicki.kennedy@sunderlandculture.org.uk

 

Dates & Deadlines

 

Easter

Closing date for applications is 4 April

Online informal interviews (after school hours) 10 & 11 April

Placement takes place Tuesday 22 – Friday 25 April 2025

 

Summer (15-18 July)

Closing date for applications is 20 June

Online informal interviews (after school hours) 3 & 4 July

Placement takes place Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 July 2025

Sunderland Culture work experience placements are offered as part of Culture Start

Supported using public funding by Arts Council and Lottery logo
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation logo
Sir James Knott Trust logo
Community Foundation logo
Gillian Dickinson Trust logo
University of Sunderland logo
MAC Trust Sunderland Logo

Apply Now

Name(Required)
Which work experience date are you interested in?(Required)
Address(Required)
Email(Required)
Date of Birth(Required)
Have you taken part in any creative work experience before?(Required)
Will you need support for travelling to and from the venues?(Required)
Do you have any additional learning or access needs?(Required)

Eligibility

Priority for work experience placements will be given to applicants who meet one or more of our Essential Criteria included in the first list below.

We also welcome your application if you meet one or more of the additional criteria in the second list below.

Essential Criteria - please select which of the following statements apply to you:
Additional criteria - please select any of the following statements that apply to you:
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Maximum 650 characters (approximately 100 words)
Maximum 650 characters (approximately 100 words)
Maximum 650 characters (approximately 100 words)
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Maximum 650 characters (approximately 100 words)
How did you hear about the work experience placement?(Required)
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