Rosie and James Pearson
Arlene Phillips and Six creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss are backing a scheme offering performers from across the UK access to free online masterclasses and workshops from industry experts.
Launched by casting directors Pearson Casting, the Collective Creative Initiative offers 30 hours of free training and workshops every week on the scheme’s YouTube channel.
Available to all professional and aspiring performers and fully funded by Innovate UK, classes range from acting advice and singing workshops through to practical information about legal or accountancy issues and mental health support.
One of the project’s patrons, Phillips said: “CCI is reaching out with support for everyone involved in the arts, to advise, teach and guide those who need it most, whether they are students new to the industry, or professionals who find their lives turned upside down, and the future looking bleak. Never has a project been so timely and I’m proud to be a patron of the CCI.”
Since its launch CCI has delivered over 50,000 hours of classes and almost 4,000 people have already signed up to the initiative’s YouTube Channel. CCI online classes are updated weekly and available via YouTube.
Commenting on the popularity of the scheme, Pearson Casting’s James Pearson said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the response so far. When we put the plan together for CCI we really didn’t know what sort of response we would get from the industry but we have been blown away by the number of people who are taking part – whether by offering their services in the form of classes or those who are watching the different classes daily.
“It’s a great way of reaching people who are unable to work at the moment and we hope it is really helping those people get through these very uncertain times for the entertainment industry.”
The funding from Innovate UK is in place until December, Pearson and his wife and partner Rosie Pearson are hoping to expand the programme into 2021.
Rosie Pearson added: “Our ethos is simple. It’s about creating equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of economic circumstances, age and training and it doesn’t matter whether individuals are professionals, aspiring professionals, or performing is their hobby.
“These classes are 100% free for everyone and we feel this is the perfect time to do something that not only benefits people who are already in the industry, but also those who may not normally have access to performing arts experts.”
Angela Thomas
www.collectivecreativeinitiative.co.uk
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