Making It
What does it mean to “make it” as an artist in the 21st century? As traditions evolve and power shifts, artists with the skills to create their own work and forge their own paths become the trailblazers of our culture.
Making It is Guildhall's new artist development programme. Available from the first day of training until five years after graduation, it's a rolling programme of opportunities dedicated to supporting artists to create, collaborate, innovate and build sustainable careers in an ever-changing creative landscape. To "make it", whatever that means to them.
Our focus
Making It acknowledges that the transition from student to professional artist is often precarious, and aims to provide support to artists at this pivotal moment, helping them to build sustainable and fulfilling careers.
Our programme is driven by four key principals that are central to our offer and our decision making.
1. Collaboration: we'll encourage partnerships across and between disciplines, artforms, skillsets and sectors to foster community and challenge traditional hierarchies.
2. Creation: we'll support the development of new artistic work and the exploration of fresh ideas.
3. Innovation: we'll champion artistic experimentation and new approaches to problem-solving.
4. Enterprise: we'll empower artists to build sustainable and ethical creative businesses.
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Making It Funding
Making It offers funding to current students and recent graduates of Guildhall School of Music & Drama to expand, connect and elevate their creative practice.
The fund will launch in the Summer Term, 2025 and will open for applications two times a year. Applications will be judged by an interdisciplinary panel and student projects will be supported by staff members who will take on the role of ‘project mentor’.
Students are invited to apply for grants ranging from £500 - £1,000.
Alumni are invited to apply for grants ranging from £500 - £3,000.
For more information on the fund, sign up to the Making It mailing list here
Making It Workshops and Courses
Making It offers paid bursary places, through a short application process, to a range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses led by Guildhall's Open Programmes team. These courses will focus on skills for the creative industries and cover essential topics like marketing and PR, evaluation techniques, and specialist software.
Our workshops and courses will be part of a flexible, ongoing programme that adapts based on interest and demand. We want to hear what you would like to see feature on these courses. You can tell us your thoughts by filling out a short expression of interest form here
Making It Festival
An annual celebration of all things Making It, our festival is an eclectic showcase of new work made by our vibrant and diverse student community. Taking place at the end of the summer term each year, Making It Festival is a multi-disciplinary degree show and a landmark moment in the School's programme of events. For more information about Making It Festival, click here.
Making It Coaching
Starting in mid-2025, Making It will offer packages of up to four hours of free coaching with a professional Guildhall Ignite-trained coach. Initially available to alumni only, coaching will be offered following a short application process.
Coaching is offered with the aim of supporting artists and practitioners who are navigating the vulnerable early-stages of their careers post-graduation. We'll prioritise applicants who would benefit most from this coaching experience.
