Alliance news

As part of Creative Careers Month in November 2025, Peterborough Cultural Alliance put a spotlight on a talented pool of artists including actors, visual artists, designers, and musicians. 

The Creative Spotlight series shines a light on creative career pathways and the diversity of roles within the creative industries, focusing on people who work locally in Peterborough. Local role models have generously shared their own journeys into creative work, the key skills they’ve developed and some inspiring and practical top tips. 

Since November, as part of Peterborough Cultural Alliance’ Creative Careers programme, Spotlights have been published online, shared through social media and at careers fairs and industry insight days to raise awareness of roles and pathways in this important industry. The Creative Careers Programme has been about platforming creative role models, as well as recognising the young creative talent in Peterborough. We have worked in partnership to create new, inspiring opportunities for young people to discover creative industries, have positive experiences exploring creative roles and skills, as well as paid opportunities for young people in further and higher education to work on real-world creative briefs.

Insider top tips from our Creative Spotlight series included:

• Connect with others and ask for advice 

• Share your creative work with others

• Don’t be afraid of hearing ‘no’ 

• Be persistent 

• Advocate for yourself 

• Proactively contact venues and organisers 

Contact pca@neneparktrust.org.uk for your FREE copy 

Young people with an interest in exploring creative careers in the gaming industry were welcomed to a free interactive Insight Day at ARU Peterborough, in partnership with People in Games, ARU and Next Generation Creatives (Mission Accomplished). 

Twenty students from Year 10 and 11at Stanground Academy had an opportunity to learn about real-world games indutry roles and production workflows from industry professionals. They were set a creative brief to work in small ‘indie-studio’ -style groups to create their own digital board game prototype. Throughout the session they gained a practical understanding of the types of roles and skills in this fast-growing sector.

Each group presented their game prototype to the room in 2 minute pitch, and were given the tools and signposted to opportunities to continue building their skills and develop their creative gaming concepts in their own time.

Peterborough Cultural Alliance are exploring future sessions with partners, and opportunities for schools to use and build on these sessions within the curriculum.

Peterborough Cultural Alliance’s youth leadership programme, Peterborough Collective, are featured in the May 2026 issue of The Moment Magazine.  

Journalist Emily Scialom interviewed members of the group to find out more about what inspired them to create the Culture Talks podcast, aimed at young people age 15 – 30 in the City. The Collective are on a mission to make Peterborough feel like home for every young person – a city where diversity is celebrated, and culture is something everyone’s proud of. Each episode captures the energy of a city in motion, spotlighting the bold voices and creative minds shaping its future.

Read what the Collective had to say here: Young Creatives find their Voices | Community – The Moment Magazine 

The Peterborough Collective programme is aimed at empowering young leaders aged 16-25 to voice their thoughts on creativity and culture, develop their skills and inspire other young people to engage with arts and culture in Peterborough.   

The Collective is made up of a small, committed and diverse group of young cultural leaders who are supported through a bursary and training programme to develop Culture Talks. The 2026 programme offered two progression pathways, moving the 2025 Collective into mentorship roles to support a new group of young leaders.  

Peterborough Collective members learn new skills and share production tasks such as content planning, hosting, interviewing guests, recording and editing. They also help to promote and grow the Culture Talks audience online through social media, a website and in-person community listening events.  

The Collective also has opportunities to get involved in Peterborough Cultural Alliance’s creative projects across the city, share their views on programmes and plans, and attend events where they can meet the creative organisations PCA works with through its networks and partnerships. 

The 2026 programme is supported by a partnership with Norfolk & Norwich Festival and University Centre Peterborough.  

During April and May 2026, Peterborough Cultural Alliance collaborated with the Youth Justice Service, Peterborough based artist Xidus Pain and a music producer to support young people to write, record and produce their own rap music. The project was made possible through funding from Local Youth Transformation Pilot and Arts Council England.

Flow Forward is a pilot music mentoring project for young people aged 15-18 facing barriers to education, training or work, care-experienced, or linked with youth support services. The project focused on songwriting, music production, recording and creative self-expression, providing 10 young people in Peterborough with a positive space to share their stories, explore their experiences and discover more about the professional music industry. 

Participants developed technical creative and transferable life skills including communication, confidence, problem solving and collaboration. One young person, a Peterborough child in care, had been struggling with attendance in education but attended every session of this project. They came to the project with a high level of interest in music and, after engaging with project artists, gained the confidence to apply for a music course at college. Their application was supported by the music they created as part of the project, alongside references from project artists. Another young person has created powerful music based on his experiences in care and is willing to share this work with Children’s Social Care staff as part of a Q&A session.  

The level of engagement was a testament to the safe and relaxed environment created by the project team.  In the final studio session, participants who had never met before worked solidly for three hours on a collaborative track. They supported each other to have the confidence to perform it in front of family, friends and support workers in our final listening party.

31st July | 12+ | from 6pm | The Cresset, Rightwell, Bretton Centre , Peterborough, PE3 8DX

 Experience an evening of Indian classical dance, with outstanding performers from across the UK, including Srishti Dance Company’s  programme – Play Ball, a story of love, football and modern life. 

From £10 | Booking here

Presented by Peterborough Cultural Alliance in association with The Cresset Theatre. Supported by Arts Council England.

Peterborough Cultural Alliance was proud to be a sponsor at the Inspire Educations Student Awards last week, alongside PCA partners Landmark Theatres and Peterborough Cathedral.

The red-carpet event celebrated the achievements, talent and dedication of young people across Peterborough and the wider region, bringing together students, families, educators, employers and community partners.

As champions of culture, creativity and opportunity, we were delighted to support an evening that recognised the incredible potential of young people and the positive impact they have on our city.

It was a truly inspiring evening, celebrating the achievements, talent and dedication of young people across Peterborough.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees – we can’t wait to see what you do next!