Building Creative Futures: Expanding Creative Opportunities
The second session builds on the learning and relationships from Event 1, with a focus on professional growth, opportunity awareness, and commercial development.
Building Creative Futures
A professional development programme for visual artists and makers
Building Creative Futures is a two-part programme of practical workshops, networking and peer exchange designed to support visual artists and makers who are based in, from, or connected with Mansfield. Each session focuses on strengthening professional practice, building confidence, and creating meaningful connections with peers and arts organisations.
Participants can attend either session, but attending both is recommended to gain the full benefit of the programme.
Event 2: Expanding Creative Opportunities
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Time: 10.30am – 3pm (arrivals from 10am)
Venue: Mansfield Museum & Art Gallery
This second session builds on learning and connections from Event 1, with a focus on professional growth, accessing opportunities, and developing sustainable and commercial pathways for creative practice.
What to expect
-
Insight into applying for open calls, commissions, residencies and exhibitions
-
Behind-the-scenes perspectives on how selection panels assess applications
-
Exploration of commercial routes such as craft fairs, online selling, gallery shops and collaborations
-
Supported networking and reflective group crits to help develop confidence and peer-led practice
Programme highlights
-
Positioning Your Practice
A talk and discussion with curator and creative producer Saziso Phiri, supported by Colette Griffin (CVAN East Midlands) -
Networking & Reflective Crit
A facilitated session led by No Jobs in the Arts, focusing on reflection, feedback skills and preparing for future peer-led crits
Lunch is provided (please confirm dietary requirements when booking).
Contributors
-
Saziso Phiri – Curator, creative producer and consultant working across the UK and internationally, with extensive experience supporting artists and sitting on open-call and residency panels.
-
Colette Griffin – Director of CVAN East Midlands and CVAN West Midlands, curator and artist mentor with a strong focus on inclusive artist development.
-
No Jobs in the Arts – A Midlands-based organisation supporting early-career creatives through opportunities, workshops, publications and advocacy.
Access & support
Mansfield Museum & Art Gallery has level access throughout, accessible toilets and blue badge parking.
A modest access support budget is available. For access queries or support requests, please contact audiences@mansfield.gov.uk.
About the programme
Building Creative Futures is delivered by Mansfield Museum & Art Gallery as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting local creative talent. The programme is funded by Mansfield District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and developed in partnership with Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands (CVAN EM).