The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to be joining a brand new countywide initiative led by Cumbria Arts and Culture Network (CACN) as part of a £175,000 project funded by Arts Council England to help more young Cumbrians build careers in the creative industries.
Working with theatres, museums and arts organisations as well as careers and education providers across the county, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and CACN will deliver SEE IT TO BE IT (#seeittobeitcumbria) over the next three years.
“We’re delighted to be part of SEE IT TO BE IT,” says Lakes International Comic Art Festival Director Julie Tait. “We’ve been actively working with schools in Cumbria on a variety of projects for some time, and being part of this exciting initiative will only further enhance that. We’re thrilled to be part of it."
“Even though Cumbria is a wonderfully creative and inspiring place to live for many - our work tells us it is not easy for young creatives to build careers here,” said Director of CACN Kate Parry. “Too often, we’re finding young people interested in creative careers - whether as museum curators, sound technicians, actors or artists - either leave to work in cities or feel they have to give up their creative ambitions entirely. Yet young people are the future of our county’s health and vitality and we need young creatives to live and work here successfully. SEE IT TO BE IT is about pulling together across sectors to make that realistic and possible.
Mac Benson - a young creative and Project Lead at Queer Cumbria, commented: “Young people in Cumbria deserve to see that a creative career is not only possible, but valued. This project is important because it will open doors, build connections and confidence for young people to thrive in creative industries, right here at home.
SEE IT TO BE IT will bring together partners from across educational, careers and creative sectors to do three things:
• Ensure creative careers are well represented in school and college careers programmes, so that young Cumbrians grow up understanding the different options open to them and how to access them
• Bring together the different development opportunities for young creatives already happening across the county, under the SEE IT TO BE IT banner, so that young creatives know where to look for support and next steps
• Create more paid opportunities for young creatives in all corners of the county, so that it becomes more possible to develop a career and earn a viable living, here in Cumbria.
Arts and cultural organisations of all kinds are stepping forward to be part of the new scheme, including theatres and arts centres, dance organisations, museums and inclusive arts organisations. There will be a particular emphasis on supporting young people who face the greatest challenges - for example as a result of disability or neurodivergence.
Project Partner and Co-Director Simon McEligott of The Knotted Project theatre company commented:
'The Knotted Project are so proud to be a partner on See It To Be It. Our mission is to transform young people's future through the power of theatre and this new investment will ensure that creative young people can thrive here in Cumbria.'
Brewery Arts in Kendal are also among the many organisations backing the project. CEO/Artistic Director Miriam Randall added:
‘Young people need to have opportunities to discover, explore and shape the arts and creative industries, wherever they live. At Brewery Arts, our mission is to empower the next generation of creatives, so I am delighted we are part of See It To Be It, a vital project that will boost skills, confidence and connections across the county.’
Sarah Glass, Executive Director at the Centre for Leadership Performance, said:
The Centre for Leadership Performance is committed to developing Cumbria's future leaders, we know how vital it is that young people see creative careers as real, accessible options. See It To Be It inspires ambition, builds confidence, and champions future talent. We're proud to be part of a project that helps make those futures feel possible.
The project will begin later this summer with the creation of a new online See It To Be It website. In the coming months, a range of new opportunities for young people will be launched including commissions, residencies, placements and early-career jobs across the Cumbrian culture sector.
Annie Brewer, herself a young creative who has worked in Cumbria for two years, is Schools and Families Producer at Lakeland Arts in the South Lakes:
Just this weekend I was working at a storytelling festival in Bowland Bridge delivering creative activities to young people and families all weekend. Most of the parents and children asked me about my job, and all were very surprised and shocked that jobs like this exist in Cumbria and creative opportunities are available. Most of the parents were concerned that the creativity their children are expressing at this age won't be nurtured in Cumbria and will instead be pushed into a different career. This project will help highlight Cumbria as a cultural hotspot with opportunities for young creatives to grow in the county.
Cumbria Arts and Culture Network is a not-for-profit company which exists to connect, champion and develop the creative industries in Cumbria. The organisation has been awarded Place Partnerships funding by Arts Council England to deliver See It To Be It. The total project cost is £350,000 and discussions are underway with a range of other funders to complete the package.
Web: cacn.co.uk
Cultural organisations involved in See It To Be It Include
Art Gene, Barrow | Web: art-gene.co.uk
BarrowFull, Barrow | Web: barrowfull.org.uk
Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal | Web: breweryarts.co.uk
The Centre for Leadership Performance, Cockermouth | Web: cforlp.org.uk
Cumbria Community Foundation | Web: cumberland.gov.uk
Cumberland Council | Web: cumberland.gov.uk
Cumbria Museum Consortium | Web: cumbriamuseums.org.uk
Cumbria Music Hub | Web: cumbriamusichub.com
Enterprising Cumbria (Cumbria Careers Hub) | Web: careershubcumbria.co.uk
Everyone Here, West Cumbria | Web: everyonehere.org
Florence Arts Centre, Egremont | Web: florenceartscentre.com
Full of Noises, Barrow | Web: fonfestival.org
Grizedale Arts | Web: grizedale.org
Highlights Rural Touring Scheme | Web: highlightsnorth.co.uk
The Knotted Project | Web: theknottedproject.co.uk
Lakes College West Cumbria | Web: lcwc.ac.uk
Lake District Music | Web: ldsm.org.uk
Lakes International Comic Art Festival | Web: comicartfestival.com
Northstar CoDesign | Web: northstarcodesign.co.uk
Orchestras Live! | Web: orchestraslive.org.uk
Prism, Carlisle | Web: prismarts.org.uk
Propellor Ensemble | Web: propellorensemble.com
Queer Cumbria | Web: queercumbria.com
Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven | Web: rosehilltheatre.co.uk
Signal Film & Media, Barrow | Web: signalfilmandmedia.com
SOMO Creation | Web: somocreation.co.uk
Soundwave, Whitehaven | Web: soundwave.org.uk
Theatre by the Lake, Keswick | Web: theatrebythelake.com
Theatre Factory, Barrow | Web: theatrefactory.org
University of Cumbria | Web: cumbria.ac.uk
Westmorland and Furness Council | Web: westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
