Connect To Creative Network
- Written byCreative Shift
- Published date 22 July 2024
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Join our student-led creative network for the chance to connect with likeminded students, UAL staff and industry professionals.
Connect with industry creatives and make friends with students from across University of the Arts London (UAL).
Connect To: Creative Network is a student-led programme that is funded and facilitated by Creative Shift at UAL. We bring together students, staff and industry to shape the creative network and aim to foster a sense of belonging and community to support students to ‘make things happen’ and ‘try things out’.
Connect To Monthly Meet Ups
Each month during term time, usually on the first Thursday of the month we meet in person to hear from a guest industry speaker and catch up, connect and share our creativity.
We are a community who understand that taking steps to share your creative work and get paid isn't easy. When you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, shout out projects you’re working on and hear about more Creative Shift opportunities and events you can get involved with. We are always sharing tips and tricks to help you move forward, make money and find paid roles, to help bridge the gap between education and industry.
At our Meet Ups, speakers have prepared workshops and activities to inspire your creative journey, learn new skills/ and connect whilst you make. This creates an opportunity for you to get to the know the speaker a bit more and network with each other.
Plus, we provide free food and drinks for you to enjoy too!
Who do we work with?
We work with industry professionals that come from a wide range of backgrounds and reflect the diversity of students in our community. We look for speakers who can shine a light on all the different creative industries that UAL students and graduates might be curious about, such as Film & TV, Print, Fashion and Fine Art.
We have worked with emerging businesses like Black Girl Fest, Gen-Z club, Aether Magazine and more! Our previous Connect To speakers have included:
- Tayo Adesina, Founder of streetwear impact brand Trash Gxng
- Bethan Dadson Fashion Stylist, Founder of HoeZine and UAL graduate
- Fashion and Commercial Photographer Shahfaq Shahbaz
- Montana Hall, Founder of RunTheCheck and UAL graduate
“People want to know you and your work, be brave and reach out to let them know you want to work with them. Be open about who you are and what you do even when you’re out and about”- Bethan Dadson
If you would like to be an industry speaker at a Connect To Meet up, please fill out this form. We ask that you have a minimum of 3 years experience working in the creative industries.
How can you get involved?
All UAL students and graduates (within 5 years) who meet the Creative Shift eligibility criteria are welcome to our monthly meet ups. You don’t need to have come before, and you can come with a friend or on your own – just remember to book a ticket.
If you want to know more, or have any other questions about the Connect To programmes, you can drop us an email: creativeshift@arts.ac.uk
Creative Shift – who are we?
Connect To is funded and facilitated by UAL’s Creative Shift team. Creative Shift believe in supporting UAL students who are underrepresented in the creative industries, through community building and by valuing students’ lived experiences.
We deliver a programme of opportunities, working closely with industry partners to enhance students’ experience and professional development through co-created projects.
How do you connect with us?
To keep up with us and find out first about our upcoming speakers, latest projects and exciting paid opportunities from across the creative industries, follow us on Instagram: @ual_creativeshift.
Creative Shift’s Instagram was created to expand our community and reflect the diverse range of people we work with including both students and established creative industry professionals and organisations.
We’re big on sharing student work, so if you’re working on something you think might be cool to share with the community, please direct message (DM) us on our Instagram account.