Culture, Music & Performing Arts

Annndddd… show us your jazz hands! Do you spend your days bouncing around in legwarmers like you’ve just stepped out of the cast of Fame? Get a shivery thrill when you hear someone saying (insert voice of Ian McKellen or Patrick Stewart) “SHAKEspeare!” Love museums and galleries? Then what about a career in culture, music and performing arts?

Every industry which might be considered ‘cultural’ (i.e. music, theatre, film, museums etc.) needs a dedicated range of professionals who work hard to help us stay entertained, excited and educated. It is a tough sector to crack. One thing you really need is passion: either for music, theatre, historical artefacts, or anything which is cultural and gets you going. You need to be an absolute culture vulture, because without that level of enthusiasm, dedication and interest you will find it hard to break into the career you want.

It’s not just about being in the limelight. Simon Russell Beale can rattle off his Shakespeare all he wants, but without theatre directors, production designers, ticket office staff, costume designers and the marketing staff in theatres, he might as well talk to a blank wall. Of course, there wouldn’t be an industry without performers. But, every performer needs to get a break, so a wealth of careers dedicated to talent management are waiting in the wings. Comedians and actors need talent agents and musicians tend to need record labels and gig promoters to get them where they want to be.

What about working in museums or galleries? It’s a very competitive career to get into and you’ll need to do loads of work experience. But you never know, one day you might be working for Charles Saatchi or call Hampton Court Palace your office. Working in museums and galleries truly allows you to follow your personal interests. Got a thing about pencils? Your prayers are answered: Cumberland is home to a bona fide pencil museum to satisfy all your HB cravings. I kid you not!

If you are more at home in a pair of legwarmers than a business suit, then a career in dance might be for you. You don’t have to be Carlos Acosta to have a successful dancing career. Other than performing, have you thought about teaching dance, becoming a choreographer or getting involved with the administrative, marketing or management side of working for a dance company? You could become the next Louie Spence of Pineapple Dance Studios fame. On second thoughts, one prancing, frolicking Louie Spence is more than enough!