Newcastle College showcased its Northern Edge initiative on Saturday 7 November, bringing together students, aspiring creatives and industry professionals to celebrate the North East's creative talent and strengthen connections between education and industry.
The event highlighted how Northern Edge brings together four student-led creative ventures at Newcastle College University Centre (NCUC), giving students opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals, gain experience on real projects and potentially earn an income from their work.
Northern Edge encompasses four areas of creative expertise: The Mandela Collective (Art and Design), Crowcast (Digital Arts), Red Kite Interactive (Digital Technologies) and The Artist Exchange (The Performance Academy).
Together, the four strands aim to strengthen connections between education and industry, creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience while encouraging emerging creative talent to build their careers in the North East.
The event welcomed prospective students from the College's Level 3 Digital and Creative Industries programmes, alongside their parents and adults interested in degree-level study.
At The Performance Academy, lecturers representing all four Northern Edge ventures introduced the opportunities available to students, while a panel of staff and students discussed the benefits of studying at Newcastle College University Centre, including industry connections and practical experience. Morning breakout workshops also gave visitors the chance to explore the creative and digital degree programmes in more detail.
Visitors enjoyed live performances from Level 5 Musical Theatre Foundation Degree student Amy Tullpck and Dance graduate Katie Wilson, who is now studying for a PGCE. Behind the scenes, Live Performance and Technical Theatre students managed the sound, lighting and technical running of the event.
Meanwhile, in the Mandela Building, Fine Art students created large-scale artworks from blank canvases throughout the day, while visitors toured the College's specialist creative facilities.
The afternoon brought together employers and creative industry professionals for a networking reception in the Mandela Building, with food and drinks providing an opportunity to meet students, explore the facilities and discuss future collaborations.
Libby Lagun, Director of Digital and Creative Industries at Newcastle College, said:
“There's so much happening in the North East's digital and creative industries at the moment, and we want our students to be part of that.
“With Northern Edge, our ambition is to keep creative talent in the North East. We're bringing together four different areas of expertise and giving students opportunities to work with industry, develop their skills and potentially earn an income from real projects.
“Seeing the creative community come together today has been fantastic. We've had some incredible student performances and artwork created right in front of us, but what's been particularly exciting is seeing people from different creative industries connecting and exploring how they can work together.”
Among the industry professionals attending was Joe Wilson, founder of NAMI Creative Network, a Newcastle-based creative directory and community dedicated to championing creative talent across the North East.
Joe said:
“I think it's absolutely fantastic. The importance of keeping up-and-coming local talent in the North East is huge.
“Newcastle College does a great job of empowering students, giving them the belief and the tools they need to take that next step, whatever that might be. Hopefully, that means building their careers here in the North East.”
Also attending was Shina Collins, founder of Shina Collins Studios Limited, who highlighted the importance of bringing creative professionals together and showcasing the resources available locally.
Shina said:
“It's about connections and networking. There are lots of people here I've never met before, so it's great to meet others working in similar industries and find out more about the facilities and resources available.
“There's so much available here in the North East that people don't necessarily know about. Events like this help people discover those opportunities, make connections and see what they could create together.”
The event highlighted Newcastle College University Centre's commitment to supporting the region's creative economy, connecting students with industry and helping the next generation of artists, performers and digital professionals turn their talent into successful careers.