the blog

The lowdown on ROUTES beyond WOMEX: Building networks, touring opportunities & audiences

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb   As someone who’s been involved in promoting, producing or touring culturally diverse music for more than 25 years now (eek!), I’m really excited to be facilitating Arts Council England’s ROUTES Beyond WOMEX ‘open space’ event at […]Read More

Tackling anxiety as a creative entrepreneur: tips from a (semi!) reformed worrier

Everyone feels anxious from time to time; it’s just part and parcel of being human. But for creative freelancers and entrepreneurs, it can often feel like anxiety is the major clause in a contract we unwittingly signed with ourselves the day we decided to take the self-employment path. So, with the theme of this year’s […]Read More

Our Made For Each Other wellbeing tips

Last Sunday (10 October) was World Mental Health Day, and to mark it we ran Made For Each Other, a day of free digital talks, workshops and coaching sessions, made by and for creative freelancers to help us all take a few moments for our own wellbeing and creativity. It was part of the hub’s […]Read More

MADE FOR EACH OTHER – our 2021 World Mental Health Day offering

Made For Each Other is a day of free digital talks, workshops and coaching sessions, made by and for creative freelancers to help us all take a few moments for our own wellbeing and creativity on World Mental Health Day. It’s part of the hub’s ongoing Balance programme, which helps creatives take better care of […]Read More

Balance #11: You’ve got this – how to boost your confidence and self-esteem

As things start to open up again, it’s a big moment for lots of us in the creative sector; some are heading back to work or pitching for new gigs, others finding that their careers remain on hold. Many of us find ourselves riddled with fear and insecurities. The truth of course is that, no […]Read More

Our free Invent Your Future (The Art of Creative Pivoting) course returns in July

“The course helped me put my values into real focus, not only regarding what I want for my business but also what I want and need for myself and my family. It was refreshing to do a course where both of these aspects felt equally important. It’s also really helped me drill down into what […]Read More

Back by popular demand! Our Balance your mind training returns this June

“It was great to spend time thinking about practical solutions…Lovely, warm atmosphere too; the way you facilitated made it easy to chat or add comments, which were all picked up and woven in beautifully. It was great – thank you!” Katharine, poet (on our 1st edition of this course)   Balance your mind is the […]Read More

Balance#10 – Help! I need somebody… Here’s what you missed!

We’re stronger together, but knowing how to help can be tricky. And asking for help can be even trickier, especially at times like this, when things are apparently getting back to normal (whatever that is). Sometimes – whether we’re the one offering help, or the one who needs it – we are simply our own […]Read More

Balance#9 – Forget FOMO! Currently it’s all about FOGB – fear of going back

With the government offering us a roadmap out of lockdown, hopes are high within the creative sector that things will begin to right themselves in the summer, and that come the autumn the stage will be set for our music venues and theatres to throw open their doors, for film sets to be buzzing with […]Read More

Our new Balance Your Mind training course is now open for applications!

Balance your mind (so you can balance the books) is our new mental health and wellbeing course for artists and creative freelancers and entrepreneurs. It’s designed to help you understand what helps you to take care of your mental health, and identify tools and habits to improve it, all things that will also help you […]Read More