Beamish Museum has launched a new mentorship programme to help people get into creative and cultural jobs.
The initiative is part of the County Durham Creative and Cultural Skills Hub's "Into the Light" programme.
The programme aims to nurture talent, boost skills, and remove barriers for those looking to work in the creative industries.
The scheme, hosted by Beamish Museum, is a six-month pilot programme designed to support individuals who want to upskill and progress in various creative and cultural disciplines across County Durham.
The programme is particularly eager to assist individuals from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the workforce and those who have faced numerous barriers to entry or progression.
Mentees will receive 12 hours of mentoring, tailored to their specific goals, from volunteer mentors.
The programme is currently seeking 12 mentors, including four paid positions for freelancers, who are willing to share their expertise.
Niamh Barclay, project lead for the Creative and Cultural Skills Hub, said: "We're excited to launch the first strand of the County Durham Creative and Cultural Skills Hub through this mentorship programme.
"This programme is an opportunity to support mentees who have faced barriers to entry and progression in the Creative and Cultural sector, ensuring they receive the guidance and support needed to thrive.
"By becoming a mentor, you’ll not only help shape the future of our sector, but also build your own skills and connections.
"We are happy to announce that, thanks to the Into the Light funding, we are able to offer four paid mentor positions for professional freelancers, ensuring that this is an equitable and accessible mentoring programme."
The programme is open to mentors who can guide mentees in their professional growth by sharing their expertise in a specific field or offering general career development advice.
Julia Handelman-Smith, director of Into the Light, said: "I’m really excited about the mentorship programme.
"Mentorship is a transformative experience for both mentors and mentees, and we hope to learn as much from our pilot mentees as we give back.
"This is the spirit of Into the Light– a unique collaboration across County Durham to break down barriers to creative and cultural skills through innovation, research and dialogue."
The Durham Creative and Cultural Skills Hub is committed to enhancing the skills, capacity, and resilience of the county’s creative and cultural sector.
It is exploring five strands – apprenticeships, paid placements, mentoring, Level 3 qualifications, and volunteering.
Working closely with Culture Durham, the Skills Hub aims to create pathways for communities with historically low levels of representation in the sector, thus building a more inclusive, diverse, and skilled workforce for the future.
The hub is part of the three-year "Into the Light" programme across County Durham, consisting of eight projects.
This programme will support over 100 creative commissions, create nationally significant performances and theatre-making in the heart of communities, inspire children and young people, and invite visitors to explore the unique mix of culture, science, and heritage.
"Into the Light" is delivered by Durham County Council, in partnership with Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, Ensemble '84, The Forge, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands, Redhills CIO, and TIN Arts.
Culture Durham is a key stakeholder, representing the broader cultural sector.
It is funded by Durham County Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and Durham University.
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