The MLC Creative Practitioners Programme offers young people a unique opportunity to explore what it’s like to work as a professional in the arts. You’ll not only refine your existing artistic skills but also learn new ones, gain hands-on experience in various roles within the arts world, and develop essential leadership qualities.

This programme is led by young people, for young people. It encourages creativity, independent thinking, and a deep dive into the arts. You’ll be challenged to expand your artistic practice, lead a creative project, explore current issues in the arts, and engage with the wider cultural landscape. The MLC Creative Practitioners Programme is the perfect way for you to discover whether a career in the arts is right for you.

Throughout the programme, you’ll build a portfolio that demonstrates your newly acquired knowledge and skills, including critical thinking, organisation, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and management – all of which are key to succeeding in any career.

By completing the programme, you’ll not only gain a valuable foothold in the creative industries, but also equip yourself with life skills that will serve you well, no matter what path you choose in the future.

On this programme, you’ll build a personal arts portfolio that showcases your journey and development. You’ll document a range of experiences, including:

Personal Arts Development:

You’ll push your artistic boundaries, explore new art forms, and create original work. This is your chance to extend your practice and experiment with different creative styles and mediums.

Engagement with the Arts World:

Through placements, volunteering, training, and research, you’ll connect with the broader arts community. You’ll gain firsthand insight into how the industry works and start to build your network within the creative world.

Critical Review and Research:

You’ll take the time to review arts events and experiences, exploring the work of artists and understanding their career paths. By investigating these areas, you’ll develop your critical thinking and gain inspiration for your own artistic practice.

Advocacy and Communication:

Part of the programme will involve championing an arts issue you care about. You’ll learn how to make a strong case and effectively communicate your ideas to others, an essential skill for anyone looking to work in the arts.

Leadership in Arts Projects:

You’ll get hands-on experience leading your own arts project. This includes planning the project, setting clear aims and outcomes, and organising the people and resources needed to make it happen.

Project Delivery and Management:

You’ll be responsible for the execution of the project, ensuring it runs smoothly and achieves its objectives. You’ll also manage a public showing or sharing of the work, gaining valuable experience in presenting and promoting creative projects.

Reflection and Feedback:

At the end of the project, you’ll reflect on your leadership development and find effective ways to gather and evaluate feedback from participants, audiences, and other stakeholders. This will help you learn from your experiences and improve your future projects.

This programme is designed to offer an exciting and dynamic learning experience, equivalent to a further education unit within a broader study area. It gives you the chance to work independently, undertake in-depth research, and track your growth as an artist through a portfolio of evidence. Delivered primarily through our learner management system (LMS), it’s flexible, accessible, and designed to fit around your lifestyle.

You’ll have access to a treasure trove of materials, presented in a range of formats including written content, audio, and video, all laid out in a clear, step-by-step structure to guide you through your learning journey.

Throughout the course, MLC will host live webinars, offering you the chance to engage directly with mentors and peers. You’ll also receive updates and essential information via communications, keeping you in the loop and supporting your progress.

Together with your mentor, you’ll set a manageable submission deadline that works for both of you, ensuring you stay on track while balancing your other commitments.

As you complete each unit, MLC will review your work individually and in chronological order. You’ll receive feedback in the form of comments within your shared journal, followed by a meeting (either in-person or online) to discuss your progress and next steps. If needed, you can make any revisions and resubmit your work.

Peer reviews and work experience opportunities are an exciting part of the programme, and you can arrange these either independently or with the support of MLC. We’re here to help and advise you every step of the way. When you sign up, you’ll be entitled to up to 20 hours of feedback and guidance, but if you need additional support, extra hours can be purchased.

Once you’ve completed each unit and it’s been signed off by you and your mentor, your work will be compiled into a portfolio and submitted to the awarding body, in line with their regulations. The results, along with the examiner’s report, will be shared with you once they’ve been submitted to and reviewed by us. Please note, there are additional fees for this part of the process, which are clearly outlined on the awarding body’s website.

The programme is designed to be completed within 45 weeks, offering you the flexibility to progress at your own pace. However, we strongly recommend meeting with MLC – either in-person or online – before committing to the course to ensure it’s the right fit for you.

While we strive to make your learning experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible, success is not guaranteed. Ongoing communication with MLC and your mentor is essential to ensuring the best possible outcome. If you ever feel unsure or need clarification on any point, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via the dashboard on musiclearningcollective.com.

For more detailed information, including full terms and conditions, please visit the website.

This course is open to anyone but is designed for young people aged 16 to 25.

The total cost of this course is £799.00. payable in 10 equal monthly amounts of £79.00.

Available start dates:

January
September

How to Book a Place

To book your place you will need to:

Fill out the enquiry form below and one of our Advisers will be in touch with you. This programme can be studied individually or as part of a group. We limit the size of this course to 25 students at a time (if online). Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please book in good time to avoid disappointment

If you have any questions about the course please don’t hesitate to get in touch. For the avoidance of doubt: total course fees are £799.00 and is payable in 10 equal monthly payments of £79.00. Contact us to discuss ways to pay.

If you have completed this programme, participants should consider our performing arts and teaching programmes.