Arts Emergency

Arts Emergency is an award-winning charity founded by comedian Josie Long and activist Neil Griffiths. Since 2013 they have provided expert mentors, guidance and opportunities to support underrepresented young people into higher education and creative careers. Arts Emergency helps young people without connections follow their passions and navigate their way into the creative and cultural sectors. The charity provides 16-25-year-olds with a combined long-term programme of mentorship, networking and real-world opportunities. Young Talent only need to ask and they can deliver. Whether it's a paid internship, CV advice or audition coaching, our volunteers will step up to help. Their support Network is made up of over 7,000 cultural professionals who've offered to share crucial gateways into hard to crack industries like TV, publishing and architecture. Arts Emergency supports young people aged 16-25 who most need the support of a mentor. This includes those from working-class backgrounds, disabled people, carers and young parents, refugees and asylum seekers, those in care and care leavers, people with learning disabilities or special educational needs, and people from Black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds. Network members bring a wealth of experience across the fields of TV, film, music, art, fashion, academia, journalism, publishing, design, and theatre. High profile supporters include fashion historian and BBC presenter Amber Butchart, comedian and actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, author and journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge, musician Kae Tempest, writer Neil Gaiman and comedians Nish Kumar, Stewart Lee and Sara Pascoe.