Creative careers aren’t linear—let’s navigate yours together
Featuring my job-search matrix and TONS of opportunities.
The monthly faves newsletter is back!
Whether you’re launching your freelance career, starting a creative business, or searching for your first industry job, we’ve got you covered.
This month’s newsletter is packed with paid opportunities and game-changing resources to help you thrive.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in your career or overwhelmed… you are not alone. That’s exactly why we put this newsletter together.
ps. If you want to skip the intro, scroll down to opportunities!
A reader recently shared:
"I'm currently feeling quite lost in myself as I enter my early 30s, and I'm unsure how to find stable work or what direction to go. I've tried a lot of different options, but nothing seems to stick."
If that resonates with you, take a deep breath. The truth is, creative careers are rarely linear, and feeling lost doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re exploring.
Sometimes, the missing piece is the right information, a fresh perspective, or a new opportunity that finally clicks.
In any case, I always like to do the job-search matrix, to define what REALLY is the most important TO ME - and then create a plan of action for it. Because you may be using someone else’s version of progress.
Here’s one way of doing the job-search matrix
Step 1: Identify Your Criteria
List the factors that are important in a job/ career.
Step 2: Prioritize Your Criteria
Essential (must-have, max 3-5 criteria) - two points
Good to Have (important but not critical) - one point
Can Live Without (least important) - zero points
Step 3: Compare Job Opportunities and Career Goals
Create columns for each job offer and rate them on a scale.
Career Support
Our big resources roundup is here
This post from
resonated with a lot of you.
I urge everyone to read
on internship salariesAnother recommended read: My business brings in millions, but I’m barely breaking even. What’s the secret to profitability?
Events and Workshops
Artist's Studio: Unlocking Culture - discussing insights into artists' studios and their role in cultural development.
Arena x Outlaw Speed Mentoring Event in Bristol
Budding sports photographers? Join Aspekt’s community photo sessions
Brighton Fringe: The Junction – a day of conversations, networking, and exchange at Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival
Creative workshops and courses for 11-30’s via Roundhouse
FREE Workshop: How to Work with Brands – Learn to pitch yourself to brands, refine your storytelling, and maximize conversions.
Making It: Creative Futures Festival at Tate Britain 🖼️
Online Peer Support Group for those working in live music in any capacity who are Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergentl
Strategy Session for Creatives – A deep-dive session to refine your business or creative career, including networking and content strategy
Saffron announced their spring music production courses
Speed Mentoring (online)
This looks cool 🎹 mentorship, funding, and industry access to help you explore your visual identity and release music with impact.
📚 Publishing Open Day at the HarperCollins London
For publishing creatives and DIY makers: GLUE, ICA’s new bookfair and creative programme is coming.
Speaking about books - very excited to hear from Natasha Brown on her new book Universality at Daunt Books London
Training & Scholarships
Bakala Foundation: fully-funded leadership development program. Learn more
Grey Matter Internship
The Level Up programme is an initiative designed to create safe, aspirational environments for Black and Global Majority Women and Girls; aged 16-25.
The programme's primary objective is to equip participants with valuable knowledge and opportunities within the sporting industry as well as provide access to spaces they deserve to be in.
Emerging artists are invited to apply for the 2025 British Ceramics Biennial Fresh exhibition, taking place in Stoke-on-Trent from 6 September to 19 October 2025.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Frieze New Writers Programme in Liverpool, England: a free-to-attend, three-day intensive course supported by Frieze membership, taking place from Friday 25 July to Sunday 27 July 2025, where a group of aspiring writers will have the opportunity to develop their skills
Looking to start out or develop your existing career journey within the PR & Communications or Public Affairs industry?
Julie Burnell Scholarship: WFTV Production Management Programme for women based in the North of England who are working in production management.
The Go! London Young Entrepreneurs Start-Up Programme is open for applications for the last time. If you’re passionate about sport, getting people active, and making a real impact in your community, this programme offers £15,000 in grant funding plus expert support to bring your idea to life.
Penguin internships
Funding & Creative Opportunities
The Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation is accepting applications for small grants to support boundary-pushing analogue photography projects and projects which use photography for community benefit by improving the health and well-being of young people.
A bit early to think about xmas 🎄 but the Museum of the Home are doing it. They have an open call with a paid commission for an emerging artist to create a new piece inspired by Christmas to be displayed in the Kingsland Road lawns from November 2025.
💰 £1M in Funding for Impact Businesse from Considered Capital here
This brand is on the hunt for a mural artist (or artists) to work on an exclusive mural in the Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Castleford, Exeter, Norwich and Nottingham stores
Bursary, £6,000 for an emerging UK-based foreign correspondent.
📌 Pro Tip: Loved an opportunity but not ready? Set a reminder! (We use this planner – 15% off with code ILIKENETWORKING
Textile Month will be held in London throughout September 2025. If you are a brand, museum or maker who would like to join the festival - which will tell the story of textiles across interior design, fashion, art and craft from around the world - get in touch by emailing the team at events@selvedge.org.
Join London’s longest running visual arts festival - there’s an open call for early career Black and People of Colour artists
Museum Jobs roundup
🎭 A new playwriting award is open for submissions
This looks awesome:
Art Fund is partnering with London Gallery Weekend to offer grants to support travel and accommodation costs for curators working at regional museums across the UK to attend London Gallery Weekend
🎤 Interested in hosting events and sports? Check out The Hundred
A few more funding and awards shared here
Mo Siewcharran Prize for non-fiction from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds.
🪩 Are you a dance artist or company looking for space, time, and support to develop your work? Pavilion Dance is seeking their next Associate Artist for 2025-2027
- shared a few creative jobs here
Before we continue: Hackney Showroom are on a mission to raise £10K to continue their brilliant programming, and one way to help is by entering their fundraising raffle
50+ Job Openings:
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