Careers festival has cultural slant

Students are being offered a taste of what it is like to work in creative and cultural sectors at a new careers festival.

The week-long series of events - organised by University’s Career Service - begins on 3 March and is open to all students and recent graduates keen to learn more about a range of creative careers.

An array of lectures, discussions and workshops will take place throughout the central campus, covering a wide variety of careers - from art therapy to computer game designing.

Varied programme

One event will see key figures from Scotland’s gallery, museum and heritage sectors take part in a panel discussion and networking event in Appleton Tower.

Speakers include representatives from National Museums Scotland, Historic Scotland and Creative Scotland.

Elsewhere, two BAFTA-winning alumni, Will Henderson and Lou McLoughan will deliver a talk on their creative careers since graduating. The evening will be hosted by BAFTA Scotland and director and producer Alan de Pellette.

A panel discussion on careers in the media also offers students the chance to meet journalists from the BBC and Sky News.

Further events include a talk on Libraries and Archives, a networking afternoon on books and publishing, and an event exploring Scotland’s computer game industry.

There will also be an information session for international students interested in the creative and cultural sectors.

Be your own boss

The festival also includes a number of events offering advice for those keen to run their own business.

A lunch-time lecture at ECA will offer students the chance to hear first-hand views from those who have started their own successful creative company.

Launch.ed - the University’s service for student entrepreneurs - will also guide people through the funding applications process

We have tried to cover as many relevant sectors, industries, professions and crafts as possible in one week.We are delighted with the number of great speakers we have at all the events in the festival and hope this will offer students a real understanding of how to enter these exciting industries.

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Student partnership

Organisers at the Careers Service have worked with Design students from Edinburgh College of Art to develop the visual identity of the festival.

The student group - called Pals Studio - worked together to create the identity, website and all marketing materials for the event.

Their eye-catching designs will also be turned into a mural on Wednesday 26 February, which will stretch across one side of Bristo Square.