Careers in Performing Arts

Any specific industry, magazines or websites for example:

CameronMackintosh.com – www.cameronmackintosh.com/

The Really Useful Group – www.reallyuseful.com/about-us/vacancies

National Youth Theatre – www.nyt.org.uk

The Stage Newspaper – www.thestage.co.uk

Spotlight: An Online Casting Agency Worldwide – Subscription Fee – www.spotlight.com

Arts Council Job Search Online – www.artsjobs.org.uk/jobs

Equity: Trade union representing artists from across the entire spectrum of arts and entertainment. Includes membership details, diary of events, news and jobs – www.equity.org.uk

Production Base – Online Production Work Vacancies/Subscription Fee – www.productionbase.co.uk/film-tv-jobs

Britain’s Leading Dance Monthly Magazine – Job Vacancies advertised – www.dancing- times.co.uk

Online Casting Advertising Theatre Work – Online Subscription Fee – www.castcall.co.uk/index.htm

Central UK casting database, acting jobs and audition alerts for casting agents and professional actors – www.castingcallpro.com

Guardian Newspaper Online (also for Teaching Posts) – http://jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/performing-arts/job-vacancy/

Drama UK Accredited schools represent the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector – www.dramauk.co.uk

The Royal Holloway – www.royalholloway.ac.uk/careers/documents/pdf/howtogetworkexperienceandinternshipsinthefilmindustry.pdf

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/performing-arts

www.whatuni.com

Subjects to study at A Level:

Music, Drama & Theatre Studies, Dance, English Literature, English Language, Media, Design & Technology.

Wider reading:

The Stage Newspaper, Arts sections in all Newspapers. An ability to show your passion and dedication to the arts is a must. Know as much as you can about your chosen area of expertise. Read, research and go to the Theatre, Cinema and Concert performances.

79 Universities offer 143 degrees involved in the Performing Arts, according to Whatuni website. www.whatuni.com

Check UCAS entry requirements for these Universities. www.ucas.com

A performing arts degree gives graduates the opportunity to combine their creative talents with the practical aspects of self-promotion and arts management. This mix of disciplines is a good preparation for the tough world of artistic performance.

Top 15 Colleges covering areas of Performing Arts:

• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
• Central School of Speech & Drama
• Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• London Studio Centre
• Guildford School of Acting
• Italia Conti, London
• Arts Educational School, London
• Laine Theatre Arts, Epsom
• The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
• Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance

Universities to study Music according to The Complete University Guide 2015 Results:

• Cambridge
• Oxford
• Manchester
• Royal Holloway
• Durham
• Bristol
• Kings College London
• Glasgow
• Birmingham
• Nottingham

Others Colleges and Universities to consider for their Musical Reputation:

• Berklee College of Music, Boston
• BIMM (British & Irish Modern Music Institute)
• The Juilliard School, New York
• ACM, Guildford
• Queens Belfast
• Edinburgh
• Huddersfield
• Salford/Cardiff
• Bath Spa
• Academy of Music & Theatre Arts, Falmouth
• Colchester Institute, Essex
• Goldsmiths University of London

Top UK Conservatoires:

• Royal College of Music, London
• Royal Academy of Music, London
• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Leeds College of Music
• Birmingham Conservatoire
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• Trinity Laban, London

Top 10 Universities to do a Drama Degree according to The Complete University Guide 2014/15 Results:

• Warwick
• Queen Mary
• Exeter
• Bristol
• Birmingham
• King’s College London
• Surrey
• Lancaster
• Glasgow
• Loughborough

These organisations promote the interests of people working in particular professions. Some have listings of employers who are members of the association and may advertise jobs while others may be a useful source of information when researching employers for applications or considering a speculative application.

• Association of British Theatre Technicians
• British Association of Dramatherapists
• British Film Institute
• Broadcast Journalism Training Council
• Event and Visual Communication Association
• Pact-trade association for independent film and television companies
• Stage Management Association
• UK Theatre

Conservatoire education is suitable for any talented performer wishing to develop their conducting, composing or performing to a professional standard. Offering a high percentage of practical training, combined with academic study and professional development, conservatoires provide the most holistic training for those planning a career in the creative arts. Individual tuition forms the major component of most courses, and conservatoire students can expect to enjoy a vibrant, creative atmosphere in which to develop their unique artistic and academic potential.

Conservatoire students have the opportunity to conduct, perform or have their music performed on a regular basis, both informally and in public. All conservatoires maintain high- calibre performing ensembles, allowing students to participate in orchestras, bands, jazz and world music ensembles, choirs, operas, dance and musical theatre productions and many other groups. Members of staff, international students and visiting artists all help to encourage a rich variety of performance influences and ideas. Study in a conservatoire environment enables excellent networking and developmental opportunities for all performers regardless of their discipline.

UK conservatoires

The UK is well-served by conservatoires, most of which are members of Conservatoires UK (CUK) – the network of British music colleges – and Drama UK – the network of British drama schools. Together, UK conservatoires cover a wide range of performance, production and screen disciplines drawn from all corners of the professional performing arts industry.

Emphasis is placed on practical training within the context of validated degree courses at university level: three or four-year undergraduate courses (BA or BMus) and one- or two-year postgraduate courses (MMus, MA, PgDip etc). Some conservatoires also offer research degrees, which are underpinned by the research interests of the institutions’ own performing and academic staff.

Professional development

In order to provide a smooth transition into working life, UK conservatoires maintain relevant professional and industry links. Training programmes with professional organisations provide good examples of the kinds of practical links which have been developed across the spectrum of musical activity within conservatoires. Conservatoires also maintain close relationships with education departments, schools, music services and drama, dance, production and screen programmes throughout the country. These partnerships are instrumental in helping to widen access to conservatoire education.

In addition, all UK conservatoires run lively junior departments and some also run junior drama programmes for students of school age. These departments make a significant contribution to the training of our most talented young performers and provide important preparation for senior conservatoire study.

The following conservatoires are available in the UK:

• Royal College of Music
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
• Birmingham Conservatoire
• Leeds College of Music
• Royal Academy of Music

For more information visit: The Conservatoires Admissions Service UK: www.cukas.ac.uk