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Creative Opportunity in Essex.

Culture Essex is committed to advocating for the arts and creative industries in Essex, from studying to supporting pathways into creative careers and support for emerging creative businesses. There’s a of training and courses on offer which can help you to find and start your career in the creative and cultural sector from higher and further education courses through to vocational based training where you can develop new skills. Click on the links below to find out more about the courses and training available across Essex.

Higher & Further Education

Essex has a rich offering of higher and further education courses in the arts, heritage and creative industries; from acting and performing, to costume and film production, architecture and marketing to art history to games design. There is a world of opportunity open to study in Essex.

Creative
Careers

Accessing careers in the creative industries can be hard to navigate, however there are resources, guidance, and opportunities out there which can help gain insight into job roles and pathways from employers through online and in-person events

Mentors and Business Support

As one of the high potential growth sectors, the creative industries is a key contributor to the UK economy. Essex has a thriving ecosystem of business support for emerging and developing creative businesses.

Higher & Further Education

Higher education

Fine Art

Fine Art BA (Hons) Colchester Institute 

Fine Art BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Photography

Photography BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Art and Design

Graphic Design and Illustration BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Creative Media and Promotion BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Interior Design BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Curating

BA Curating University of Essex 

BA Curating with Politics University of Essex 

BA Curating, Heritage and Human Rights University of Essex

Art History

BA Art History University of Essex 

BA Art History (including Foundation Year) University of Essex 

BA Art History and Language Studies University of Essex 

BA Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies University of Essex 

BA Art History, Visual Cultures and Media Studies University of Essex 

Costume and Design

Costume Construction BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Hair and Makeup Design and Application for Production BA (Hons) University Centre South Essex 

Hair and Make-up for production

Hair and Makeup Design and Application for Production University Centre South Essex (Backstage Centre)

Games and Games Design

Computer Games Bsc University of Essex 

Computer Games Bsc (Including Foundation Year) University of Essex 

Acting and drama

BA Acting and Community Engagement East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

BA Acting and Stage Combat East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

BA Acting and Physical Theatre East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

BA World Performance East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

Producing

BA Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

Certificate of Higher Education in Acting and Theatre Arts East 15 Acting School, University of Essex 

Film and Production

BA Film Studies University of Essex 

BA Film and Creative Writing University of Essex 

BA Film and Drama, University of Essex 

BA Film Studies and Literature University of Essex 

BA Film Studies and Art History University of Essex 

BA History with Film Studies University of Essex

BA American Studies with Film University of Essex 

BA Film and Television Production University Centre South Essex

Creative Careers

Essex based training and courses

Signals Film & Media

BFI Film Academy

BFI Film Academy short courses

BFI Film Academy Specialist Courses

Open University

The Open University short courses in film related studies 

Adult community learning

ACL offers a comprehensive range of art, drawing, painting and craft based courses. Learners are discovering new and exciting skills, making, creating and sharing inspirational moments in the classroom. Friends are made and learning is for life. Find out more 

Mentoring & Support

Mentoring

The Mercury Creatives Mentoring Programme is a free business support and mentoring programme for early career creative businesses and arts freelancers working in the arts and creative industries across Colchester, Harlow, Tendring and Chelmsford and the wider Essex and Eastern Region who are experiencing barriers in skills development or looking to progress their career to the next stage. The programme also includes an online directory and resource portal, showcasing alumni and local creatives skills and opportunities.

Business Support

Ambitious Essex Growth Hub provides businesses in Essex with a single point of access to a wide range of local, regional and national support. Our team of friendly and experienced navigators offer free and impartial signposting to help new and existing businesses find the most suitable support for them.

Create South East is designed to help creative businesses in the early stages. The programme will support the development of the skills to secure investment so that creative businesses can achieve their ambitions to grow. It is tailored to the needs of different creative disciplines, respective markets, governance and distribution models.