The Art Workers’ Guild

Applications are currently closed for 2026 - 2027

You can find information about the application process below.

To be notified when applications are open for the 2028 programme, and to hear about other Guild events, you can sign up to our mailing list here.

Who can apply for the Creative Connections programme?

The programme is for creative people* who:

are between 0-5 years post-graduation (BA or MA) or
are between 0-5 years years post-apprenticeship / training or
have set up their own professional practice or business in the past 5 years (this includes those who are self taught or have developed their practice outside of traditional education or training courses)

And who:

demonstrate a commitment to developing their practice / career and
have a strong interest in forging supportive connections with people in other creative fields.

Please note: there is no age limit to participate in this programme.

* Our definition of creative people includes (but is not limited to): makers, architects, designers, art historians, curators, craftspeople, artists. Please take a look at the Guild’s membership page to get a sense of the very wide variety of disciplines within our membership; you’ll see the Guild takes a broad approach to creativity.

Application Process:

There is an open call and an application process to join the Creative Connections programme.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Guild members. The panel will select a shortlist of applicants. If you are shortlisted you may be invited to have an informal conversation with someone from the selection panel (either in person or online). The panel may also contact the person who has provided your statement of support.

You will be asked to submit:

a completed application form
a PDF with images / examples of your work and short captions or commentary where appropriate
a short testimonial, statement of support or reference
A completed diversity and inclusion monitoring form

The criteria for selection will be:

commitment to developing your creative work
commitment to establishing your career / practice
interest in connecting with people beyond your particular field
demonstrating that you have a sense of where you want to take your work (though this may, of course, change over time)

What is expected of participants:

Places on Creative Connections are limited so participants are asked to commit to attending as many programme events as possible; the aim is to build supportive networks (that we hope will extend beyond the year of the programme itself) and to get to know each other’s work and ambitions.

We hope that taking part will benefit your professional development and that your skills, insights and perspective will enrich other participants’ experience too. By participating in Creative Connections you will become part of a peer group of creative people from a wide range of disciplines who are interested in building supportive networks and sharing their perspectives.

Please note, Creative Connections is not a mentoring scheme or a business advice course.

Programme fee

Once accepted, there is a fee of £30 to participate in the programme.

If you’d like to participate but travel costs or other expenses will make it difficult for you to take part, please let us know; we may be able to help. This will be managed on a case-by-case basis by Guild administrative staff and will not have a bearing on the selection process.

Creative Connections is subsidised by the Art Workers’ Guild.

About the Art Workers’ Guild

The Art Workers’ Guild was founded in 1884 by young architects, artists, designers and craftspeople who wanted to create a place to meet and learn from each other, on an equal footing.

The Guild still holds to its founders’ principles, promoting dialogue and collaboration across disciplines and generations. Today over 100 creative fields are represented in the Guild membership, ranging from glass engraving and wallpaper design to architecture, film-making, ceramics and curating. This diversity makes the Guild unique; it is a sociable place where traditional skills meet modern design methods, where creative connections are forged and ‘learning by doing’ is celebrated.