RISE – The Shortlisting Process 

This piece is written by Claire, Artswork’s Creative Producer Apprentice for Slough. As an organisation dedicated to empowering young people, we were excited to have Claire join our selection panel for Rise shortlisting, alongside three other Artswork colleagues. Being within the age category of the Rise programme herself, Claire brought invaluable perspectivesto the process. The RISE project connects young people with art, cultural, and heritage opportunities. It offers £500 funding to 25 creatives aged between 13 and 30. This initiative supports them in overcoming barriers, developing their creative practice, aiming to empower and invest in the next generation of artists and creators. Applicants are invited to apply with a short video demonstrating their creative practice, explaining how the funding would support their aspirations and help them overcome any obstacles they may face as creatives. Additionally, applicants were asked to submit samples of their work, providing a glimpse into their individual practices. The primary objectives of the RISE project are:

• To empower young creatives by providing financial support
• Help young artists overcome barriers to their creative practice
• Invest in the future of art by nurturing the next generation of artists and creators

These objectives align with our charity’s key aims. By empowering young people through creativity, we encourage them to engage in art, culture, and their communities. The financial support and barrier removal provided by the Rise project, enables young people to experience creative opportunities and develop skills that support them in their lives, education, and careers.

The selection process: Initially, the process began with reviewing application videos and portfolios. It was fascinating to see the variety of creative practices and the talent displayed. The range of creative practices included poets, musicians, photographers, musical theatre artists, fashion designers and bakers. This diversity enriched the selection process. It was encouraging to see neurodiverse individuals among the applicants, their participation displaying the inclusivity of the RISE project. The evaluation was based on a ranking system to ensure fairness. 

Four people, including myself, made the final decisions. As someone within the age category of the RISE programme, I brought a valuable perspective to the process. Initially, I found it quite difficult to rank each person as I wanted to give everyone high scores. I found myself being drawn to those with larger barriers, as they resonated with me the most.

The funding provided by the RISE project will enable the successful applicants to develop their creative practices further, overcome financial and logistical barriers, and realise their aspirations and contribute to the arts, cultural, and heritage landscape. Most participants were aged between 18 and 24, indicating a strong interest from young adults. I am eager to see these talented individuals grow and flourish in their respective fields. The RISE project has been a fantastic opportunity to support young creatives. Being part of the shortlisting team was a rewarding experience, and I look forward to witnessing the impact of this initiative on the next generation of artists and creators.

This project has demonstrated the importance of creativity in enabling young people to thrive, build better lives and shape a strong future. RISE is supported by public funding from Arts Council England. 

Written by Claire Langham, Creative Producer Apprentice, Slough 

To see our 2024 RISE creatives, please keep up to date via our social media: instagram @_artswork_ tiktok @_artswork_