Common People #016
Mentorship! Optimism! Sausage Rolls!
Good morning!
How are you? It feels like our little movement is picking up pace! New communities are emerging (hello Working Arts Club), Commoners are connecting, and even the new government is listening. At least that’s what they’re telling us.
This is all good news. Increasing Working Class representation in the creative industries is essential to the future of the UK in many ways: trust in the media, a positive unifying culture, improved quality of life. An absence of those things invites dark voices to fill the vacuum. And then we really will be in trouble.
But it’s not just about going cap in hand to industry gatekeepers and asking for change, it’s equipping ordinary people with the tools to tell their stories, and those of their communities, in such an impactful way that the industry can’t ignore our voices.
It’s happened before and it can happen again.
So whatever your background or situation: share knowledge, fund creativity from the fringes, pull the next generation up, chew your co-workers ears off about it. Do the stuff! AND THEN DO IT AGAIN!
We’re always up for a chat to help make this happen. Drop us an email at: commonpeoplelikeus@gmail.com
We’re Celebrating…
M&C Saatchi Open House is a free training programme offering weekly sessions to learn about the comms industry. It’s starting up again in September. Anyone can join.
Photographer Kirsty Mackay’s new book The Magic Money Tree looks at the people hit hardest by economic hardship in Bristol, South Shields and the Midlands. The book was made in collaboration with the communities, teaching young people photography skills and encouraging them to express their feelings creatively. Ken Loach is a fan.
Greggs and Monzo perfectly captured the surreal Kafkaesque experience that is austerity Britain by creating a cash machine that only dispenses sausage rolls.
Fancy passing your skills and experience onto the next generation? Creative Mentor Network are looking for mentors in London and Manchester, from all parts of the creative industry. All the info can be found here. Deadline Aug 14th.
We just discovered Suited for Success, a charity providing smart work clothes to people across the UK who need them, even if it’s just for an interview. OHHH…SUITS YOU.
Stockton Arts Centre is hosting a video game production workshop on 7th August with BRiGHTBLACK, an arts collective whose work has been featured in the Tate Modern and toured 36 countries. Pay what you like.
Ever thought about making a film? Top producer Hollie Bryan, who worked on The Old Oak with Ken Loach, will talk you through the process with the BFI next week. Read about her experiences being a Working Class filmmaker here.
A million quid has been made available to boost the West Midlands’ creative sector. This article highlights some of the ways it’s being used and how individuals can access grants.
Writer, actor and theatre-maker Isla Campbell has written about their experiences as Working Class local in Edinburgh during the Fringe. Their new show Tartan Tat sounds brilliant btw, if you’re heading to the festival.
The Hayward Gallery’s outstanding touring exhibition After The End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989 - 2024 is in Southend until September, before heading off to Nottingham in the Autumn.
Tool of the Month…
Stop laughing. ERIC allows you to browse thousands of internships, bootcamps, events, training schemes, courses & more, all in one place.
In The News…
Fancy ruining your day? The Guardian gathered personal stories of what 14 years of Tory cuts have done to Britain’s creative industries.
More optimistically, they also asked some of our leading stars what can be done to fix the arts in Britain. Steve Coogan echoes our thoughts exactly.
The person tasked with leading the turnaround is Lisa Nandy, the new government’s Culture Secretary. We welcome the fresh energy and look forward to what lies ahead for our creative sector.
But if things get too bad we can always shit in the river.
Common People is, and always will be free to read. No paywalls. Nada. But if you like what we’re about and want to help the cause, you could shout about us on socials or share this with a friend. Or your co-workers. Or get us in to do a talk at your office. Or just drop us a message with a friendly word to commonpeoplelikeus@gmail.com.
We also have a WhatsApp group for commoners in the creative industries. If you’re not already at peak WhatsApp group and want to get involved, drop us a message!
Until next month,
Much love.