Creative Connections Festival
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pmJoin us, industry experts, alumni and current students at our...
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Creative Connections is a unique event bringing together creative industry professionals, University of Gloucestershire students, alumni and local sixth form and college students for a day of inspiration, insight and networking.
Designed to celebrate creativity and explore the many pathways into the creative industries, the event provides attendees with the opportunity to hear directly from professionals working across a wide range of creative sectors, discover different career journeys, and gain valuable advice about building a successful creative career.
Whether you’re interested in art, design, architecture, theatre, writing, music, media or other creative disciplines, Creative Connections offers a chance to hear from people who are actively shaping the creative industries today.
Creative Connections gives attendees the opportunity to:
Whether you’re planning your next steps after school, considering university study, or preparing to enter the workplace, Creative Connections is an opportunity to connect with people who have first-hand experience of working in the creative industries.
Join us for a day of conversation, inspiration and connection as we explore creativity, careers and the future of the creative industries.
| Time | Location | Event | Details/Panel members |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 – 9.45am | TC208A&B | Networking Skills | Red Kellino |
| 9.45 – 10.45am | TC007 | Industry Panel One | Hear from industry experts Amita Joshi-Welton (Sky News), Sara Firth (Speed PR), Teddy Draper (Sky Sports and Amandaland), and leading voice over artist Andy Turvey |
| 9.45 – 10.45am | TC014 | Industry Panel Two | Hear from industry experts Elaine Green, Nellyvision founder and Chair of TIGA, Mah-Noor Anwar (Chutney Chick) graphic designer, Elly Deacon Smith, Arbor Architects, Anna Saunders, Cheltenham Poetry Festival Alexandra Bevan and marketing and PR freelancer |
| 10.45 – 11am | TC007 and TC014 | Break and meet the panel | |
| 11am – 12pm | TC014 (spill over streaming room TC007) | Keynote & Panel Debate | Hear from record label founder, DJ and writer Elijah on what it means to be creative in 2026 with 11.30am – 12pm follow-up panel debate with Elijah, Illustrator Fumio Obata, Simon Rea from Glazzards Architects and Everyman Theatre Education and Youth Theatre Manager Stella Buckland |
| 12 – 1.15pm | TC007 | Networking Lunch Event | Meet business and organisations across the creative sector and beyond and find out where your skills could take you |
| 1.15 – 1.45pm | TC014 (panel 1) & TC013 (panel 2) | Alumni panel | Hear from our alumni panel of graduates from across the school now working in sports journalism, music, games, architecture, communications and PR, creative writing, heritage and community projects. |
| 1.45 – 2.45pm | TC007, TC014 and studio space (OW001 & OW002) | Skills masterclasses | 1 x Finding your confidence and promoting your creative brand (TC007) 1 x How to become a successful creative freelancer with illustrator Fumio Obata and freelance writer and journalist Juliette Morton (TC013) 1 x Outreach Design skills masterclass with Mah-Noor Anwar (Chutney Chick) (OW002) |
A series of industry-led panel discussions featuring professionals from across the creative sector.
Each panellist will share:
The session will include short presentations from each panellist, a chaired discussion, audience Q&A and an opportunity for students to network with speakers and make valuable professional connections.
The event’s keynote address will explore the changing nature of creativity and the challenges and opportunities facing creative professionals today.
Following the keynote, a panel of creative practitioners from a variety of disciplines will discuss questions including:
The session will include audience participation and the opportunity to hear a range of perspectives from across the creative industries.
Hear from University of Gloucestershire graduates as they reflect on their journeys from university into professional life.
Our alumni speakers will share:
This session offers an honest and inspiring insight into life after university and the many routes into creative employment.
An 8.3 billion to 1 longshot: Finding confidence and promoting your creative brand
Whether we are freelance, running our own business or employed, if we have or want to have a creative job, it is good to have a sense of our own brand.
In this interactive workshop we will be exploring one of the main barriers to us connecting with our brand which is confidence. with the aim of having more successful and enjoyable careers.
Along the way we will discuss our uniqueness as human beings, what makes us stand out from AI and how we can all have more successful and enjoyable careers.’
How to become a successful creative freelancer
Interested in freelancing as a creative professional? Join this interactive masterclass to hear first-hand from a freelance practitioner about their career journey, how they network and market themselves, and the opportunities and challenges of freelance life.
Featuring a short guest presentation followed by a careers-led workshop and discussion, this session offers practical advice and insights for anyone considering a freelance career in the creative industries.
Design skills masterclass with Mah-Noor Anwar (Chutney Chick)
Get an insight into the creative design process in this engaging masterclass, where a professional designer will showcase their work, share their approach to design, and explore how ideas are developed from concept to creation.
The session will offer inspiration, practical insights into creative practice, and opportunities to ask questions and gain advice about studying and working in the design industry.