Activate Performing Arts CREATE! 2026 – a free event creation course

Applications are NOW OPEN for CREATE! 2026:
Apply by 5pm on Monday 27 October via our online application form.

CREATE! 2026 is a FREE course being delivered in Spring 2026 for those who are based in Dorset and BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) with less than 2 years experience in the arts sector.

You will learn how artistic events are created from start to finish and take part in workshops led by experienced professionals.

Topics include:

• What makes a great event?
• Building a network
• How do community-led projects work?
• Financing a creative idea
• Where can events happen?
• Marketing and audience identification
• What is risk management?

What do you get from the course?

The FREE course includes:

• Your travel expenses whilst attending the course
• Lunch, drinks and snacks during the course
• A professionally developed programme designed to give you a clearer understanding of how artistic events can be made
• An opportunity to pitch for a pot of money to help make your creative idea a reality
• Networking sessions during and after the course
• Direct access to arts professionals
• Useful resources signposted directly to you
• Direct engagement with art/performance in your region

Participants on the course also have an opportunity, at the end of the course (using skills learned during the course and documents they have been introduced to) to pitch a creative idea which Activate Performing Arts, b-side, and Arts by the Sea will offer constructive feedback on. The most successful pitches are offered seed-funding to further develop their ideas.

With creative learning sessions taking place across Dorset, the participants take part in the workshop sessions together, where there are opportunities for connection and spaces to see different types of artistic work.

Interested?

Download an Application Pack in pdf format or Word format.

CREATE! is for people of any age (18+) who may have some experience in creating their own creative events, those who want to step into the artistic industry but don’t know how, and also those who have no idea how any of the creative world works but think they have a great idea they’d like to make a reality.

Your application will be scored against the following criteria:

Essential criteria
• Creative ability to come up with original ideas
• Genuine passion for creating artistic events
• Willingness to learn and a curiosity for new experiences
• Good communication skills
• Less than 2 years working or volunteering in the arts sector OR less than 2 years since returning after a career break.

Desirable criteria
• Able to work both in a team and solo
• Awareness of gaps in your skills and/or knowledge

ACCESS: The CREATE! courses are designed to be accessible. We encourage applications from people who have access requirements.

“The course should be commended for practicing what was preached in its sessions being an accessible course that actively sought to remove the barriers we discussed e.g. transport, food and financial.” CREATE! 2025 participant.

If you have any questions, email Activate’s Trainee Producer, Grace.

Film footage by Callumn Lindsay.