EKC Dover College has hosted its Creative Career Fair at the new Bench Street Arts Campus for the first time, bringing together students from across the College and pupils from local schools to explore opportunities in the creative industries.
Pupils from Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Astor Secondary School, Dover Christ Church Academy and The Elms School joined the event, where they could meet industry professionals, discover creative career paths and learn more about progression into higher education.
Students and visiting pupils had the opportunity to speak with representatives from local creative organisations, including Dover SMART Project, Dover Arts Development, Cakeshop Media, Future Foundry (Dover Youth Festival), Artswork and Screen South.
The fair also welcomed higher education providers, including the University of Kent, Medway School of Arts, Canterbury Christ Church University and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
The event gave everyone the chance to ask questions, gain advice from industry experts and discover how their creative interests could develop into future careers.
As part of the event, Artswork delivered a creative workshop linked to its work with local artist and folklore expert James Frost for Dover at Night. Participants used materials collected from the beach, including driftwood, plastics and shells, to create imaginative puppets.
Louise from Artswork hoped the workshop would encourage attendees to explore different pathways into the creative industries, highlighting the range of opportunities available locally.
She said: “I would like to hope that the students today can see that there are so many different ways to be involved in the creative arts, and that actually Dover is full of creative organisations.
“We’ve already had some young people say feel they’re not going to be good at it, but at the end, they made the most brilliant, marvellous fun creatures. So, it’s about giving things a go and having a try.”
Alongside the careers stalls, our new artist in residence, Charley Vines, led a creative workshop, where participants took part in a drawing exercise involving rocks. The exercise encouraged them to follow an idea, respond to unexpected developments and consider how creative work can evolve beyond its starting point.
Charley will continue working with students throughout the academic year in the Bench Street Arts Campus, supporting their creative development and encouraging them to experiment with new ideas.
The fair also gave local pupils the opportunity to discover the new Bench Street Arts Campus. Jacob Weeks, Head of Campus, led tours for visiting school groups, introducing them to the space and the creative arts opportunities available at EKC Dover College.
Jacob said about the day: “The Creative Career Fair was a fantastic opportunity to bring together Dover’s creative community and showcase the wealth of talent, opportunities and career pathways available within the creative industries.
“We wanted to give our students and local school pupils the chance to meet artists, creative businesses, universities and organisations, helping them make connections, gain inspiration and see where their creative skills could take them.
“At the Bench Street Arts Campus, we’re passionate about supporting and celebrating Dover’s thriving creative scene.
“We hope the event has helped build new relationships between education and local creatives, encouraged the next generation of talent, and strengthened the links between the college and the wider community. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be an exciting future for creativity in Dover.”
By bringing together students, local schools, creative organisations and higher education providers, we hope the fair has connected young people with opportunities across the creative industries and the different pathways they can take towards their future ambitions.
A big thank you to all the employers, creative organisations, universities and local schools who joined us for a successful day of sharing ideas, exploring opportunities and celebrating the creative industries.
If you’re interested in exploring our creative courses and seeing what you could achieve at EKC Dover College, come along to an upcoming Open Day. You’ll have the chance to explore our facilities, meet our tutors and find out more about where a creative course could take you.
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