Training scheme nurtures new cultural producers
Curated Place and Newcastle City Council support emerging producers with hands-on training and opportunities to stage work
A programme supporting the next generation of cultural producers in the North East is nearing the end of its first cohort, with participants now preparing to pitch ideas for one of Newcastle’s major summer festivals.
The Creative Producer Training (CPP) scheme, delivered by Curated Place in partnership with Newcastle City Council, has been supporting 15 emerging producers from across Newcastle and the wider region.
The free, 10-week programme forms part of the city’s 10-year Cultural Events Programme and is designed to build real-world skills in cultural production and placemaking, helping participants develop and deliver creative projects while strengthening the local creative economy.
Councillor Abdul Samad, Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Music and Arts, said: “Newcastle’s creative economy is growing rapidly and is central to the future of our city. Programmes like this, which provide meaningful support and real opportunities for local creatives, play a vital role in strengthening our distinctive and fast-expanding cultural sector.”
Participants say the scheme has offered valuable opportunities to develop their professional practice and build new networks.
Freelance creative Lizzie West said: “The learning has felt genuinely responsive and tailored to the voices and experiences in the room, which made it feel thoughtful, supportive, and relevant. Programmes like this are vital for producers.”
Midge Ryall, company producer at Unfolding Theatre, added: “Ultimately, this training programme is helping to build a connected, skilled workforce of creative professionals in the North East, ensuring that investment, high-quality work, and talented arts practitioners remain rooted in the region.”
The current cohort will complete the programme at the end of March, before pitching ideas for NOVUM Festival, which takes over Newcastle city centre for three days in August. Up to six projects will receive commissions of £15,000 each alongside mentoring to help bring them to life.
Recruitment for the next CPP cohort will open in the coming months. Interested applicants can register their interest at www.creativeproducertraining.com/cptn.