Work experience

Work experience is a short-term experience of employment, typically arranged for older pupils by schools. ITV is doing work experience, but it is online because of COVID-19. Also, the ITV website is saying to do some work experience you have to be 18 or over, and they shouldn’t be longer than two weeks.

The work experience that I completed was with the Lowry. The Lowry work experience was on Tuesday 22nd February 10 am- 3 pm, and it was offered to young people, 14-17 years old, a look behind the scenes at a large arts venue. The Lowry has 3 theatre spaces, an art gallery, exhibition spaces, a restaurant, a café and a large youth and community programme.​

The work experience session was designed to put the people that joined the work experience in charge of planning and programming a whole season in a large arts venue. When planning the season there are many questions that you have to think about and one of them is what do you think audiences will enjoy stand-up comedy? Live bands? Ballet? Circus? Shakespeare? This work experience was about finding out what goes into choosing shows, what makes audiences tick, and ensuring you have something for everyone. ​

What does the day involve?​

— A virtual tour of The Lowry​

— An overview of various departments, from Marketing and Programming to Technical and Front Of House, and how they work together​

— Meet professional artists and staff members involved with creating work at The Lowry​

— Work in small teams on a mini-project where you plan your ideal season, making decisions within a budget on what shows and events you would programme and why​

— Find out how working professionals started their careers in the Arts​

Experiences you will gain​

These are the skills that this opportunity will help you to develop:​

• Understanding how the organization operates​

• Giving presentations​

• Decision-Making

• Leadership​

• Communication Skills​

• Professional Etiquette​

• Teamwork​

• Event planning