Women & Theatre
Apprenticeship Pathway – Community Arts
Apprentice – Bianca Mikaela Prentice 24
Apprenticeship Start Date – October 2010
Women & Theatre is an established contemporary theatre group, who have worked with Creative Alliance since the beginning of Creative Apprenticeships Scheme. They recognised as a company that they could benefit from hosting an apprenticeship.
They designed a post and recruited Melisa Harrison as an Associate Artist Apprentice who was with them for a year from May 2009. They provided a varied and high quality learning opportunity for Melisa which also benefited the company and the placement proved to be a success. They were very keen to continue to work with Creative Alliance and take on new apprentices when the current one came to an end.
Women & Theatre recently recognised that they needed to increase their capacity to ensure the smooth running of a new project at the Mac that involved both the professional and community cast of Wasted. As a result they were delighted to welcome Bianca Mikaela Prentice to the theatre team for a six month placement as a Project Co-ordinator Apprentice.
“She is brilliant in the role of Community Cast Liaison, being very calm, organized, friendly and providing a vital point of contact for community cast members negotiating a complicated rehearsal schedule.”
In regards to taking an apprentice Women & Theatre found the process to be straightforward.
“Bianca arrived at a busy time and in some ways hit the ground running, very quickly getting stuck into the delivery of tasks that were asked of her and also contributing to wider discussions about the company, and specific projects in development. She understands our approach to project work and shares our ethos.”
As a small arts organisation Women & Theatre identified the benefits of taking on apprentices.
“It is fair to say that what Bianca has brought to the placement has exceeded our expectations. The quality of her work is very high but she has also brought skills and talents that we had not even sought in our apprentice job description, namely her graphic design skills which have been fully utilized on Wasted as well.
Our experience of working with Bianca has been fantastic. She is a mature, creative, positive and intelligent woman who has quickly become a valued member of the team.”
Thinktank
Apprenticeship Pathway – Level 2 National Award Creative and Cultural Practice/ Community Arts
Apprentice – Jen Harris
The Thinktank were keen to take on apprentices and partnered with Creative Alliance. Thinktank at Millennium Point Birmingham is a hands-on science museum complete with galleries and exhibitions. Through Creative Alliance the Thinktank were able to recruit two apprentices that they have been able to integrate into their business. They sent through a detailed job description and found suitable apprentices for their role. They found the task of taking on a new apprentice easy.
“The Creative Apprentice Scheme has been a great success for Thinktank and we are grateful for the support from Creative Alliance to help us take part. We’re pleased to have been one of the first museums involved in the scheme and would definitely recommend the programme to other organizations.”
Entering into the Apprenticeship scheme has benefited their company, they have gained valued employees to their work force, people who are hard working and willing to learn.
“In October 2010 our first creative apprentice Jen spoke at the Museum Association Conference in Manchester, Jen gave a short presentation and then helped to facilitate the workshop session. She spoke about how she benefited from the apprenticeship and also gave information on how other museums can gain from similar schemes.
Thinktank is proud to be employing 2 Creative Apprentices working towards Level 2 & Level 3 awards, partly funded through MLA and being trained by Creative Alliance.”