A list of schemes and networks for Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse creatives

Breaking into the creative industry isn’t always easy. For many creatives from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds, barriers can be higher and some networks harder to access. Our sister company It’s Nice That originally compiled this list, which we’ve updated and are re-sharing here, featuring a range of schemes and communities working to improve representation and access across the creative industries.

Whether you’re studying, just starting out or exploring your next move, there’s something here to help you take the next step.

Jobs and funding opportunities

Workculture
A jobs board for a myriad of arts careers across all levels

Arts Jobs Online
A jobs board for a myriad of arts careers across all levels.

The Commissioner Programme
Ensuring television content and commissioning teams better reflect modern Britain, this leadership programme is designed to broaden the diversity of TV commissioning by bringing in new voices and perspectives.

Create Jobs
An employability programme for young Londoners, Create Jobs is transforming London’s workforce by supporting and developing individuals who are underrepresented in the creative and digital industries.

Creative Access
Working towards a day when Britain’s society is truly reflected in our creative industries.

Flipside
An industry-led talent development programme in digital design for young people aged 19-30 year olds living in a London borough – with priority given to those in Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Hackney, and Newham.

Inspire
A local education charity working in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Camden and Islington to improve young people’s access to the world of work, enhancing future career prospects.

Just Runners
An inclusive agency providing runners for the UK’s film industry. Over 60% of film crew started as a runner and Just Runners is committed to investing in diverse futures.

No Trace BAME Initiative
Created to address the lack of representation of crew from BIPOC backgrounds within the advertising production industry. No Trace BAME Initiative support and offer opportunities in the form of mentoring and short-term paid roles in junior/trainee/assistant/entry level positions.

Other Box
Founded in 2016 and run by Leyya Sattar, the organisation runs training and consultancy on D&I, bias and culture-change as well as a jobs board on its website. It also supports a creative and diverse community of over 3,500 people of colour and people from other underrepresented backgrounds.

Project Noir
A diverse, creative online Facebook group including writers, presenters, film crew and photographers circulating job opportunities (including entry-level positions), to support BIPOC creatives looking for work in the UK’s film and TV industry.

SocialFixt
A jobs board and platform aiming to bridge the gap for Black talent within the UK’s creative industry.

Talk2Dan
A recruitment and consultancy agency helping young people aged 16-25 break into the media industry.

Tower Hamlets EBP and Inspire!
A local education charity working in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Camden and Islington to improve young people’s access to the world of work, enhancing future career prospects.

Opportunities for learning

Black Girls CODE
Devoted to showing the world that Black girls can code and so much more. Black Girls Code introduce computer coding lessons to young girls from underrepresented communities in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails.

Brixton Finishing School
Disrupting how the creative industry recruits, Brixton Finishing School offers free online and in-person courses designed to upskill you to win.

D&AD Shift
D&AD Shift is a free, industry led night school programme for new creatives across six cities. If you are over 18 and don't have a degree level qualification, Shift is for you.

Ideas Foundation
Last year 92% of creative jobs in the UK were held by the most ‘advantaged’ in society. Ideas Foundation helps to move the creative, tech and communications industries in a more diverse direction.

The Other Box
Through CPD membership courses, consultancy and brand partnerships, Other Box facilitates an honest conversation to better understand the importance and value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills aim to power the skills to build a world-leading, inclusive and agile workforce for the UK screen industries.

Networks, platforms and publications

Access VFX
A pursuit of inclusion, diversity, awareness and opportunity within the VFX, animation and gaming industries.

Azeema
A print magazine, platform & community exploring womxn within the MENASA region, diaspora and beyond.

Black Ballad
A lifestyle platform telling stories through the eyes of Black British women, elevating their voices through content, community and commerce.

British Blacklist
The online global home for African Caribbean British creative professionals on the screen and stage, in sound and literature, both up front and behind the scenes.

Black Girl Fest
Amplifying the voices and experiences of Black British women and girls through community-based events.

British East Asian Media
Connecting and supporting those of East Asian and Southeast Asian heritage working in the media industry in the UK.

Creative Equals
An award-winning global not-for-profit consultancy, helping to grow inclusive cultures to unlock the potential for innovation, creativity and profitability.

Film Pro
Assessing the ways we make and experience film and digital art, Film Pro hopes to enhance the diversity of the UK and worldwide arts sector.

Fuse Manchester
A Manchester-based collective uplifting Black, Asian, and Global Majority creatives through community events, artist workshops, and more.

Kanaiza
A global community of artists and art lovers from the diaspora.

The Kusp
Providing a gateway for diverse creatives from underrepresented backgrounds to excel within the fashion, film and television industries.

Livity
Bringing brands together with diverse, next generation talent in the hopes of making the world a better place.

Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals
A commitment to corporate, social, and community contributions to enhance the African-American business climate in Los Angeles.

LoveMusicHateRacism
Promoting unity through music, LoveMusicHateRacism celebrates diversity through educational programmes and events.

Mama Youth
Mama Youth aims to change the misrepresentation of people from underrepresented groups in the media.

Media Trust
Encouraging the media and creative industry to share their time, knowledge and creativity to benefit underrepresented communities and young people.

Muslim Sisterhood
An inclusive creative community centring Muslims across its print and online platforms.

New Filmmakers
Spotlighting Black cinema with a selection of short films from Black filmmakers.

People of Craft
A growing showcase of creatives of colour and their craft in design, advertising, tech, illustration, lettering, art and more.

The Pitch Fanzine
Challenging inequality, discrimination and the lack of diversity in the creative industry, The Pitch Fanzine showcases some outstanding talent.

POCC
A community of creative, like-minded people working in advertising, media, fashion, arts, film and photography. POCC’s mission is to accelerate equality and positively change the experiences of people of colour within these industries.

Roaring Girl
A creative arts company working in film, audio, text and performance. Roaring Girl combines high quality creative work with practical activism.

Shiny Awards
Shiny exists to get more new and diverse directors into advertising production through screenings and opportunity creating.

Thy.self
Actualising what self-care and self-love really means through monthly events where you can meet the thy.self community.

Women of Colour
A group for women of colour in the UK creative industries dedicated to supporting and learning from each other.

Women of Color Unite
A social action non-profit organisation focusing on fair access, fair treatment and fair pay for women of colour in all aspects of the entertainment and media industries.

#YouEqualTech
A space providing content and events on entering and advancing your career in technology and digital. Featuring everything from how-to guides, to monthly meet-ups, annual conferences and more.

Young Urban Arts Foundation
Helping disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential by engaging with the arts.

YourCinema
A platform dedicated to showcasing films, documentaries and talent from diverse communities in the UK.

Mentorship programmes

Arts Emergency
An award-winning mentoring charity and network helping marginalised young people overcome hurdles to work in the creative and cultural industries.

Creative Mentor Network
Working with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, Creative Mentor Network aims to address the barriers many face in pursuing a fulfilling career in the creative industries.

RoutesIn
A creative industry mentorship project, Routes In is designed to open up the creative industry in the hopes of making it more inclusive and diverse by supporting every route to success.