'HeadStart: For a Creative Future' is part of SAA-uk's Generation 21 Training program.

HeadStart: For a Creative Future is SAA-uk's unique 2-year training and development scheme, investing today to develop the cultural practitioners and leaders of tomorrow. It aims to develop a new generation of potential arts and cultural leaders from global majority backgrounds and ensure that the scheme's participants are appropriately skilled to support the continued growth and long-term sustainability of the sector.

SAA-uk has identified a sectoral issue in recruiting a skilled global majority workforce who feel empowered to make a positive contribution to the UK's cultural landscape, so we want to give young people the opportunities and skills they need to move towards leadership roles and to be contenders for jobs in the creative industries.

Statistics from the Arts Council's diversity report 2016-2017 bears this out - 11% of staff at National Portfolio Organisations are global majority, against a National average of 16%. 17 out of the 100 largest arts organisations (employing more than 50 members of staff) had not one global majority individual working for them.

Only 8% of Chief Executives are global majority, but if you remove organisations that focus on global majority arts, the figure drops to 2%. When looking at Band 3 Funded organisations (receiving £1,000,000 or more per year), there are no global majority individuals leading them.

HeadStart, a flagship initiative, is designed for individuals aged 16-30 from global majority backgrounds. It is an opportunity to access comprehensive training, mentoring and coaching to develop careers within the creative sector.

This two-year full-time program open exclusively to UK residents, offers a competitive salary range of £19,500-£23,000, plus a dedicated training budget.