Talent Pathways

We offer connections between lesser known facets of Somerset House so that an individual or a creative business has sight of the possible pathways between programmes and are supported to progress according to need, while also having opportunities to be part of the Somerset House cultural programme.

The scale of our resident creative community across artforms, interdisciplinary practice, artists, makers, freelancers, creative start-ups and established creative enterprises and arts organisations means we are uniquely well placed to nurture creative talent and to facilitate cross pollination across the creative sector.

We prioritise support and opportunities for those who are under-represented within the creative sector, ensuring that inclusive talent development is embedded in everything we do. The symbiotic links across Somerset House’s resident creative community cascade both ways; individuals at the start of their careers benefit from access to the experience, opportunities and social capital within Somerset House, whilst established creative enterprises benefit from raw talent, new perspectives and the diversity of background that newcomers bring.

Key principles:

• Tackle under-representation in the creative sector.
• Focus on providing entry routes for 16–30-year-olds through our young people’s programmes.
• Create opportunities for individual artists, creatives and for creative businesses of all types, rather than focusing on a particular artform or creative discipline.
• Experiment with programmes across every element of the Somerset House creative ecosystem – Studios, creative enterprise residents, Exchange shared workspace and young people’s Upgrade Yourself programme.
• Ensure progression routes from entry-level and upwards.
• Enable pathways between the programmes that are appropriate to the individual or business.