What we do
We deliver a programme of opportunities, working closely with industry partners to enhance students’ experience and professional development.
Our offers are student and staff facing and both in-curriculum and extra-curricular. We focus on working with students from underrepresented backgrounds, providing experiential opportunities to support their creative journeys.
We enhance the student experience through community building and by valuing students’ lived experiences. We co-create projects between students, staff and industry; we also offer practical know-how, tools and access to peer and professional networks.
Who we support
Creative Shift acknowledges the barriers that exist for students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education and in the creative industries.
Our programme prioritises students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education and in the creative industries. We work together to co-create spaces and projects that shape the future of the creative industries and the diverse voices that will contribute to them.
In line with UAL's Access and Participation Plan (PDF 350KB), you must satisfy both of these criteria:
- I am currently a Home (UK) student studying on an undergraduate degree course at UAL.
And one or more of the following statements apply to you:
- I am Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.)* student
- I took part in the UAL Insights programme
- I am a Care Leaver (I have been in the Care system)
- I have a disability according to the Equality Act 2010
- My parent(s)/ guardian(s) have not completed a University Degree
- I have caring responsibilities (i.e I am a parent, or am the primary care giver for a child/children, disabled person/s or elderly family member for example).
*We acknowledge that the term Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) is contested. Whilst there is no consensus view on alternative terminology, we welcome ideas and feedback on this debate.
Our projects
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Student photography project. Image by the Connect To group.
Connect To
Join our student-led creative network for the chance to collaborate on projects with students, UAL staff and industry professionals.
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Illustration by Nia Hefe Filiogianni
Women+ in leadership
Read about our programme of events and activities set up to inspire and empower women+ to break through the glass ceiling.
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Tech Yard event hosted at Peckham Digital. Image: Cymon Taylor.
Creative Shift x Insights
Find out how Creative Shift work with the Outreach team to provide opportunities to former Insights students during their UAL journey.
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Design by Jai Tyler
Gradual podcasts
Explore the questions and challenges that many new graduates will face. Listen to unfiltered stories from creative professionals.
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A group of students inside the artist Sokari Douglas Camp's studio. Image by Jai Tyler.
Visits out
See behind the scenes of creative companies, meet professionals, build your network, ask questions and understand the roles available.
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Students visiting Bidhaar shop in Peckham. Photo: Shani-Louise Osei
Industry Partnerships
If you work in the creative industries and would like to partner with Creative Shift you can find out more here.
Get involved
- Follow Connect To on Instagram for competitions, student created content and paid work opportunities.
- Find us on Linkedin
- Email us at creativeshift@arts.ac.uk
Our approach
We are led by students’ interests, and place emphasis on their strengths alongside what they need to thrive in industry. We design and tailor our programme activity with students’ schedules and personal circumstances in mind, to ensure that we are creating student-centered spaces.
Feeding into the wider remit of the Academic Enhancement team’s curriculum work as evaluated by APP, Creative Shift aims to foster belonging and community through compassionate pedagogies.
We are inspired by the West African Philosophy: Ubuntu, and the “I am because we are” ideology, which we use as a model to support decolonial approaches to education.
We encourage students, staff and industry to value themselves and each other with compassion, empathy and support, with the aims to encourage students to affect positive change in their respective communities and become change agents of the future.
Moving forward
We are constantly learning and evolving; we encourage students, staff and industry to get involved and co-create these intentional spaces with us, together.
We realise that along the way, we won’t always get everything right, but we stand committed to building equitable futures through constructive dialogue, and by reflecting on our own practice, behaviours and language regularly.
Meet the team
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Tessa Read
Tessa Read, Head of Creative Shift (t.read@arts.ac.uk)
I was key in initiating Creative Shift. Prior to this I worked in Widening Participation at UAL. My interest lies in addressing inequality and under representation within HE and the creative and cultural industries.
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Lora Ghany
Lora Ghany, Employability and Progression Manager (l.ghany@arts.ac.uk)
I develop the strategy around our student-facing programmes and focus on supporting students’ employability and progression into the creative industries.
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Sat Sehmbey
Sat Sehmbey, Employability and Industry Manager (s.sehmbey@arts.ac.uk)
I build partnerships with the Creative Industries to design collaborative projects that offer unique industry experiences for students
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Shani-Louise Osei
Shani-Louise Osei, Employability & Progression Programme Coordinator (s.osei@arts.ac.uk)
I support student-led learning through Connect To: Creative Network and collaborate with alumni as part of the Represent event series.
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Charline Springer
Charline Springer, Creative Shift Project Coordinator (c.springer@arts.ac.uk)
I collaborate with industry to create opportunities for students to develop their experience and networks, through events and live briefs. I also work with UAL Insights to support the student journey.