Shadow Artist

Overview: Spectra is expanding its shadowing artist programme! This opportunity is for West Midlands-based learning disabled and autistic creatives who would like to develop their leadership skills and gain more experience in running creative workshops.

Responsibilities:

• Working with Spectra artists to run community workshops
• Learning about the ideas behind our work and why these are important
• Training in planning and running workshops
• One-to-one mentoring
• Support with travel and access costs

Deadline for applications: 9 am, Monday 23rd February 2026

If you need this information in a different format or would like any support before applying, please contact hayley@wearespectra.co.uk

What is Spectra offering?

• 8 paid shadowing sessions with Spectra artists in community settings
• 2 paid one-to-one sessions with a Spectra Mentor
• Travel costs
• Peer support (meet and work with new people)
• Support towards access costs/support worker costs

Is this an opportunity for me?

This shadowing artist programme is for you if you:

• Love being creative
• Like meeting new people (even if you’re shy or a bit nervous)
• Want to share your creative skills and ideas with people in the community
• Want to help other people express themselves and be more creative

You will be shadowing our experienced artists as they are out in the community delivering creative workshops and projects. These might include a music workshop in a museum, a craft workshop in a hospital garden, or a visual arts workshop in a community centre.

There is no need for a formal diagnosis to apply to be part of this development program. We will particularly welcome applications from those who have experienced significant barriers to access work, funding and opportunities for development in their creative careers, due to a learning disability/autism. Applicants need to be over the age of 18.

What is the timeframe of this project?

• Closing date for applications: Monday 23rd February
• Informal interviews: Tuesday 10th March
• Shadow artist induction: from 17th – 25th March
• Shadowing sessions start in April 2026. There will be 8 sessions in total.
• The artist will have a mentoring session and planning meeting at the start of the programme, and a mentoring session and reflection meeting at the end of the programme.
• Sessions run throughout the week, at various venues around Sandwell borough.
• Each shadowing artist programme will look slightly different, to meet the interests and needs of the individual. There isn’t an end date to this programme, to allow artists to progress at their own pace.

What will I be paid?

You will be paid a total of £950. This includes:

• 8 shadowing sessions at £75
• 2 mentoring sessions at £75
• Planning meeting at £100
• Reflection meeting at £100

Payment can be made to suit the shadowing artist’s financial situation. You can claim support towards your travel and access costs.

How do I apply?

• Book an informal chat with Hayley (who runs the shadowing programme) to find out if this programme is right for you or the person that you support. Email hayley@wearespectra.co.uk to book a meeting.
• Fill in the application form by the closing date of Monday, 23rd February at 9 am. (You can still apply if you haven’t had a chat with Hayley.) If you would like to apply with an audio or video recording, please contact Hayley.
• We’ll be in touch after the closing date to let you know whether we’d like you to come along to an informal interview and compatibility meeting on Tuesday, 3rd March at Lightwoods House in Bearwood.

What happens after this programme ends?

After the initial programme, there is the opportunity for shadowing artists to carry on working with Spectra and continue their development with us throughout the remainder of 2026. Previous shadowing artists have gone on to lead on our community projects, they have got involved with performance projects, and joined Spectra’s Steering Group (making decisions about what Spectra does as a whole company).