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As an arts officer, producer or director, you’ll use your creative and organisational skills to make live or recorded programmes and performances. Learn more about a career as an arts officer, producer or director, find out what it involves and what you’ll need to study and do to get a role.
Making contacts in the industry is essential for career progression. Often, you’ll start your career as a runner, gaining experience in radio studios or on film, theatre or TV sets. You’d then work your way up with jobs like floor manager or 3rd or 2nd assistant producer or director.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a place many new producers and directors take their first production to launch their career.
It is also possible to break into directing by making your own films, known as ‘shorts’. You’ll need access to actors, equipment, and crew to do this. Film schools running short courses or a community filming project might help you with this. You can then enter your film into competitions, post them online or send them to agents.
Alternatively, you might move into an arts officer, producer or director role after working behind the camera, acting or screenwriting.
Once established as an arts officer, producer or director you may want to get a more prestigious role by, for example, moving from a local network to a national one. You could also decide to specialise in one area such as drama, documentaries or news.
Continued professional development is essential in the media industry as technology is constantly changing. There is also an industry expectation you’ll be able to multitask, so the more skills you can offer a project the better.
Once you’ve gained considerable experience you might set up your own studio, giving you greater freedom to choose who to work with and which projects to take on. Alternatively, you might move into teaching or lecturing in a related subject.
You might want to join a professional organisation such as The Production Guild, Stage Directors UK (SNUK) or Directors UK.
Due to the freelance nature of the industry, you could also consider joining the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (Bectu).
Use our Career Matcher to see which industries and roles align best with your interests.
