Apple backs Factory black creatives programme
Factory Manchester is being supported by Apple to drive a new talent development programme to link to support black and mixed heritage creatives in Greater Manchester, London and Birmingham.
Manchester’s flagship arts venue opens later this year and is pushing hard on industry and education links to bolster its place in the regional cultural sector.
The ground-breaking programme with Apple represent the global tech giant’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI — and represents Apple’s first REJI expansion into Europe.
A one-year pilot project – REFRAME – starting between March and August 2023 which will reach 80 emerging Black creatives from low-income backgrounds as well as hundreds of secondary school children in 21 schools in Greater Manchester, London and Birmingham, under the Inspire Schools brand. The programme aims to promote digital creative skills and help young people reach new heights in their creative careers.
The Residency part of the project will be designed in consultation with leading employers, and will focus on equipping young creatives to use digital tools needed for the future and preparing them for the practicalities of a career in the arts.
In addition, Factory International’s award winning Factory Academy programme will also help
people from all backgrounds to start new careers in the creative industries, working in partnership with employers across the city.
Randel Bryan, executive director of Factory International, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this new cross-sector partnership to support the next generation of Black creative talent in the UK. 2023 will be a time of enormous change in Manchester’s creative and cultural industries with the opening of Factory International set to bring direct, accessible and tangible routes into the industry.Through partnerships such as these, Factory International is committed to bringing new and diverse voices into the creative sector, supporting the talent of tomorrow to show exactly what they’re made of.”
