As the curtain closes on Basingstoke Festival 2025, we celebrate how our town came alive with opportunity. As part of the Basingstoke Festival 2025, a new initiative – the Creative Work Experience Project – connected students from six local schools with arts organisations to co-create performances and exhibitions. It was a celebration of creativity; a platform into the future.
This initiative was made possible thanks to funding from Hampshire County Council and The Careers and Enterprise Company, with Hampshire Careers Hub partnering with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Basingstoke Festival. This project blended hands-on experience with workplace insight. Over two weeks, young people took part in workshops, rehearsals, placements, and performances – gaining a front-row seat to what it means to work in the creative sector.
Why does it matter?
Because the creative industries are one of the UK’s fastest-growing economic sectors, contributing over £124 billion in 2023 and employing 2.4 million people. Yet, there’s a growing demand for fresh, diverse talent and a clear need to prepare young people for creative careers that are often misunderstood or overlooked.
The Creative Work Experience Project helps address this. Through participation, students develop key employability skills identified by The Careers and Enterprise Company:
- Communication: Whether performing, presenting ideas, or writing event reviews, young people sharpen how they express themselves.
- Teamwork: Creative projects demand collaboration from stage design to ensemble acting.
- Problem Solving: Live events rarely go perfectly. Adapting and thinking on your feet is part of the learning.
- Self-Management: Rehearsals and deadlines call for independence and time discipline.
- Creativity: A key employability skill, it fuels innovation and flexible thinking with skills being developed every time students imagine, design, or perform something new.
Crucially, this work aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks, which are widely recognised as a framework for delivering high-quality careers education. Students connect with employers, gain authentic workplace experience, and learn how school subjects, especially the arts, translate into future career paths.
In addition to everything they gain from the experience, participants also work towards the Bronze Arts Award, a nationally recognised qualification that celebrates commitment to arts learning and showcases transferable skills on CVs and personal statements.
“I had a really great time on Saturday helping. It built up my confidence in talking to strangers and I practised my customer service skills. It was good fun. My favourite bit was listening to the Philharmonia performance again.” Participating student from Dove House Academy.
“This experience is really fun. I would definitely do this again if I had the chance. The activities and shows you see are amazing. You have to have a lot of confidence when performing and also concentration.” Costello student.
“This is a really fun experience. It has definitely made me re-think of what I can do in the future. I would very much like to do this again. It was really fun to learn different types of skills and activities, both as a performer and as an audience member.” Costello Student.
“This project has been an incredible opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in the creative arts industry. Through hands-on work experience, collaboration with professional artists, and the chance to earn a Bronze Arts Award, they’ve not only developed valuable skills but also gained real insight into future careers in the arts. It’s been inspiring to see their confidence and creativity flourish.” Costello Creative Arts Head of Faculty.
These kinds of partnerships put Basingstoke on the map, not just as a place that hosts culture, but as one that creates it. They give young people a reason to imagine their future here, where creativity is both celebrated and employable.
Although Basingstoke Festival 2025 has come to a close, beyond the captivating performances and applause we witnessed the next generation of creative professionals in action and the kind of local innovation that keeps our town thriving.
Rachel Parker
Employment and Skills Officer
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
