Sixteenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

The role of museums in informing young people’s creative education and career choices is increasingly recognised. While numerous museums now have dedicated young people’s programmes that include creative education and careers support, there is a gap in knowledge about the profiles, information needs and challenges faced by young people while they attempt to choose, train for and access creative careers. This paper draws on a three-year study on two flagship events offered by the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Young People’s Programme: three editions of a creative careers fair and two editions of a creative education five-day course for young people not in education, employment or training. The study consulted more than 260 young people who attended one of the two events, by means of interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and analysis of creative outputs. Based on this rich dataset, the study found that young people’s information needs differ according to two aspects: decision-making about a creative career and associated education pathways; and creative career stage. On this basis, the paper offers a detailed segmentation of young people that features socio-demographics, career interests and the type of information and support they need to choose, train for and access creative careers. The findings can be taken up by cultural institutions to inform the design of their programmes that address young people, creative education, and creative careers support.