Starteast

22/10/2025

📣The Creative East programme is open to applications for the 2026 Norwich cohort!

Running from January to March 2026 and held at the Norwich University of the Arts, the free programme is designed specifically for creative businesses based in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, or Peterborough.

It’s packed with practical support to help you become investment ready!

• A 10-week in-person programme (1 day pw) – alongside a curated cohort of other creative businesses, participants attend seminars, workshops and pitch practice sessions. Find out more about the programme structure here.

• Regular support from a dedicated Investment Funding Advisor – all our team have backgrounds in the sector -they will work with you one-to-one to create a bespoke plan to address your challenges, explore opportunities and develop new networks.

• One-to-one mentoring – you will be supported by members of our network of industry professionals and specialists

• Networking and Investment opportunities – Exclusive opportunities to meet creative industry investors, peer-to-peer networking opportunities and events.

Register today by filling out our expression of interest form on our website: https://www.creativeeast.org.uk/expression-of-interest/

14/10/2025

HAVE YOUR SAY ON CULTURE'S ROLE IN SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board, supported by Fern Culture and Norfolk & Norwich Festival, is shaping a bold new environmental strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk’s cultural organisations, CULTURE DRIVES IMPACT: ENVIRONMENT AND PLACE.

Our region is rich in expertise and innovation in environmental sustainability – spanning universities, science and technology sectors, and in its artists and cultural organisations. The strategy aims to define how our sector leads in responding to the climate and nature crisis, to build powerful, sustainability-focused partnerships across the region, and to position culture as a vital driver of a flourishing, sustainable future.

They want to hear from everyone working in the cultural sector! Creative practitioners, artists, producers, curators, educators, technicians, front-of-house staff, freelancers… your voices are all crucial.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes (link in bio)
Deadline: 5 November 2025.

14/10/2025

BURSARIES FOR ARTISTS & YOUNG CREATIVES

Applications for Norfolk & Norwich Festival's 2026 Bursaries for Artists & Young Creatives are now open!

Norfolk & Norwich Festival will be awarding 16 bursaries of £2,500 to Artists and Young Creatives to deliver projects or undertake research which benefits the creative and cultural lives of children and young people across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The deadline is 31 October 2025.
Find out more and how to apply via their website here: https://nnfestival.org.uk/schools-and-communities/creative-leaders/

29/09/2025

Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board Briefing - All Change
16th October, 5.30 - 6:45pm, via ZOOM Online

A Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board Briefing for the culture sector on Devolution, Local Government Review and Arts Council Review. The Culture Board has developed this briefing specifically for Culture leaders, collaborators, investors, workers and advocates.

This briefing will cover:
• Why Devolution and Local Government Review is happening in Norfolk and Suffolk?
• The difference between Devolution, Local Government Review and the Arts Council Review
• The detail on what is happening and when.
• What this could mean for the culture – from freelancers to big civic institutions.
• How to get involved and to influence what happens.
• What the Culture Board is doing.

See the full agenda here: https://bit.ly/4pLLdsV

This is an online briefing designed for people working in the cultural sector across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Please sign up here: https://bit.ly/4mJYob0

15/05/2025

Creative East Drop-In Sessions
We're pleased to share details of some upcoming Creative East Drop-In Sessions — informal events designed to help creative businesses find out more about the free support available through their programme.

These relaxed, drop-in style sessions offer the chance to meet the Creative East team over a coffee, ask questions, and see how the programme could help unlock growth and investment opportunities for your business.

Upcoming sessions:
• Norwich – 5 June, 12-2pm – Theatre Royal
• Cambridge – 10 June, 12–2pm – Cambridge Junction
• Ipswich – 12 June, 12–2pm – The Hold
• Bury St Edmunds - TBC

Creative East is part of the UK Government’s Create Growth Programme, designed to help creative businesses become investment-ready and achieve their next stage of growth. The programme is fully funded and tailored to the unique needs of the creative sector.

Eligible businesses can access:
• Specialist mentoring and 1:1 business support
• Expert-led workshops and seminars
• A regional community of ambitious creative businesses

It’s open to creative companies based in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough, working in sectors such as film, TV, design, fashion, gaming, digital, publishing, marketing, architecture and more.

To find out more, please email [email protected]

https://bit.ly/4kkQaW2

18/03/2025

Creative Employer Skills Survey 2025

The Creative Employer Skills Survey is a survey of 1,300 businesses across the creative industries in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The survey aims to help Government and other organisations to assist employers by better understanding the skills challenges that creative employers face within their workforce and when recruiting, and the skills that will be important to creative businesses in future. Creative businesses with 2 or more employees are invited to take part in an interview with researchers, to gather data on skills shortages and gaps, training provision and future skills needs.

The Creative Employer Skills Survey is a survey of 1,300 creative businesses in the UK to gather data on skills shortages, skills gaps, training provision and future skills needs.

21/01/2025