At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects to transform a youth custody waiting room with young people.
- Company: Join the Young Cultural Changemakers Programme and make a difference in your community.
- Benefits: Competitive fee, opportunity to develop skills, and work with inspiring young people.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and support for digital badge training.
- Why this job: Empower youth voices and create a vibrant space that reflects their ideas and energy.
- Qualifications: Experience in art-making and a passion for youth engagement.
The predicted salary is between 5970 - 5970 £ per year.
The Young Cultural Changemakers Programme is putting creative place‑making power in the hands of young people. Young people across the south east are empowered to lead on significant creative projects in their local area, transforming their lives and those of their neighbours. Working with local communities and a range of partners, we are listening to the views, experiences and ideas of children and young people and supporting them to explore creative ways to make change happen in their areas.
Artswork Young Cultural Changemakers programme is working in partnership with young people in the West Sussex Youth Justice Service to design an artistic intervention/s to transform the experience of the Waiting & Consultation Room in the local youth custody suite. Young people have described the current room as plain, boring and basic. The space is ‘too white’ with ‘nothing to look at’ and nothing to do or feel interested in while waiting in the space. They would like to transform the space to make it feel more youth‑friendly, exploring qualities like adding colour, interactive visual elements that can be explored, details or features that can hold your interest, that might change over time and that can encourage a calmer state without being too ‘cute’ or ‘friendly’. (One user described a wish for ‘cat energy’ – ‘independent without trying to too hard’.)
The brief is to work over the summer holiday period through small regular weekly 90 minute – 2 hour sessions attended by young people (aged 11 – 18) with their key workers. Each session will be run twice, allowing 2 separate small groups (c 6 young people) to engage separately. Sessions would like to explore a range of art‑making techniques that might include:
- Stencils and street art styles
- Patterns and print making
- Watercolours
- Other art forms according to participants /lead artist/s interests
Sessions will have three ambitions:
- To build towards a considered and ambitious youth‑led design or designs for the space that will be ‘pitched’ to the building management toward the end of the programme and which meet all Health & Safety requirements for a Custody Suite waiting room.
- To develop young people’s skills in communication, confidence and using their voice (these skills will be digitally badged with full training provided to support digital badge delivery).
- To share art making skills with key workers attending which may be used in other Youth Justice contexts after the project.
Some planning /provision for working at home on some of the sessions for young people who are not able to join group work would be helpful (a separate budget will be provided for materials for at‑home working). The final artwork may be created /installed by the commissioned artist, potentially with young people from the group, or contracted to be professionally fabricated (the commissioned artist will be expected to provide final design files for production). It may feature pieces created during the workshop sessions or be an entirely standalone concept, developed from the young people’s ideas.
A fee of up to £5970 is available for this work to include the artist’s time, travel, expenses, workshop materials and VAT. A separate production budget for the production /installation is available of up to £7500.
Deadline: 10:00 Monday 6 July 2026
To apply please send a short (2 pages A4 maximum) expression of interest responding to the Artist Specification above and a CV which can include up to 5 images or a link to a website. Applicants will be scored against the criteria above by the selection panel which aims to include young people involved in the project. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Friday 10 July 2026. Interviews are likely to take place online – please let us know if we can offer any access support to facilitate your attendance.
Youth-Led Artist Commission – Arun employer: Artswork Limited
At Artswork, we are dedicated to empowering young people through creative place-making initiatives that foster community engagement and personal growth. Our collaborative work culture encourages innovation and artistic expression, providing unique opportunities for professional development while making a meaningful impact in the lives of youth in West Sussex. Join us in transforming spaces and experiences, where your creativity can lead to real change in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Youth-Led Artist Commission – Arun
✨Connect with Local NGOs
Dive into local non-profit events and community workshops—these are goldmines for freelance gigs in the social impact space. Networking with pro-bono organisations can lead to discovering opportunities where your skills can shine.
✨Showcase Your Impact Portfolio
Create a compelling portfolio that highlights your past social impact projects. This should include client testimonials and case studies—real stories that show how you've made a difference. Use platforms like Behance or a personal website to host your work.
✨Engage with Online Communities
Join Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities focused on social impact and non-profits. Participating in discussions not only builds your reputation but can also lead to freelance gigs as other members share job opportunities.
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We think you need these skills to ace Youth-Led Artist Commission – Arun
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Impact:When applying for a freelance role in social impact projects, let your enthusiasm shine through! In your application, share personal anecdotes or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to social causes. This helps us see why you're a perfect fit for making a difference with Artswork Limited.
Craft a Tailored Portfolio:For our freelance positions, it’s really important to include a portfolio that showcases your previous work in the nonprofit sector or social impact initiatives. Highlight projects that align closely with the kind of work Artswork Limited does, and don’t forget to include metrics or outcomes to illustrate your impact!
Outline Your Availability and Rates Clearly:Transparency is key in freelance applications! Make sure to include your availability and any rate expectations in your application. This gives us a clear understanding of how you can fit into our projects and helps to set the stage for a smooth collaboration.
Connect the Dots in Your CV:When it comes to your CV, focus on relevant experiences that highlight your skills in project management, grant writing, or community engagement. Tailor your CV to reflect the specific requirements of the freelance role at Artswork Limited to help us understand how you can directly contribute to our mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at Artswork Limited
✨Showcase Your Impact
As we're diving into the world of nonprofits and social impact projects, it’s vital to highlight your previous work that made a difference. Bring along case studies or examples from your freelance projects that emphasise your ability to create positive change and measure outcomes. Let’s show Artswork Limited how you’ve delivered real results!
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you’d handle specific challenges in the nonprofit space. They might throw real-world scenarios your way to see your problem-solving skills in action. Practise articulating your thought process, as this will demonstrate not only competence but also a genuine passion for the issues at stake.
✨Pitch Your Unique Value
Remember, freelancing means you’re not just someone they hire; you’re a partner in their mission. Be prepared to sell your unique skillset and how it fits their needs. Tailor your pitch based on the social causes they're involved in to show that you understand and resonate with their goals.
✨Bring the Right Tools
In the nonprofit sector, familiarity with project management and collaboration tools can set you apart. Whether it’s Trello, Asana, or Google Workspace, have examples ready of how you’ve used these tools in past projects to streamline your work. This will illustrate your organisational skills and readiness to be an effective team member from day one.
