Creative opportunities, exhibitions and ideas to start the year

As the new year settles in, there’s plenty worth paying attention to – things to see, ideas to sit with and opportunities you can actually apply for. To make it easier to navigate, we’ve rounded up a selection of creative industry highlights to have on your radar this month.

Apply to BBC Creative U’s advertising masterclass

BBC Creative U is back for its sixth year, with applications now open. Run by BBC Creative, the free 12-week masterclass supports aspiring creatives from ethnic minority backgrounds who are interested in working in advertising.

The course covers the fundamentals of idea generation, strategy, copywriting and art direction, taught by BBC creatives and industry specialists. There are also guest sessions and opportunities to connect with people working across the industry. Past alumni have gone on to roles at agencies including BBH, TBWA and Universal.

Find out more here. Applications close Tuesday 17 February.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life opens at the Tate Modern in February

Opening in February, Tracey Emin: A Second Life is the largest exhibition of the artist’s work to date. Bringing together four decades of practice – from painting and video to neon, text and installation – the show traces Emin’s personal and creative evolution, including My Bed.

Raw, confessional and deeply human, it’s a chance to spend time with work that has shaped British art over the past 40 years.

Running at Tate Modern from 17 February to 31 August 2026 – Book now

Boost your skills with Idris Elba’s Creative Futures programme

Idris Elba has teamed up with The King’s Trust to launch Creative Futures, a programme designed to help young people take practical steps into the creative industries.

With courses spanning DJing, event production and more, the programme focuses on skill-building, confidence and access. Elba himself received support from The King’s Trust earlier in his life, and Creative Futures builds on that legacy.

The courses are open to UK-based 16–30-year-olds who aren’t currently in employment, education or training.

Explore the programme here.

See New Contemporaries at South London Gallery and spot what’s next

If you’re curious about where UK contemporary art is heading, New Contemporaries is a good place to look. Opening at South London Gallery later this month, the annual exhibition brings together work by emerging artists selected by a panel of international practitioners.

Since 1949, it’s helped surface names including David Hockney, Derek Jarman and Paula Rego.

Open 30 January to 12 April at South London Gallery.

Who speaks for the creative industries is shifting

The government has announced a refreshed line-up for the Creative Industries Council – the group that brings together industry leaders and ministers to influence decisions around skills, funding and the future of creative work in the UK.

While the council itself sits at a senior level, its priorities shape what filters down over time, from where investment goes to how entry routes and regional opportunities develop. The new membership spans film and TV, music, design, fashion, publishing and games, with the aim of reflecting how the creative industries look now, rather than a decade ago.

Read the full announcement on GOV.UK.

Apply for Deptford X’s new DX Associates Programme

Deptford X – the artist-led visual arts organisation best known for its annual festival and year-round programme in south-east London – has launched the DX Associates Programme, a nine-month initiative supporting early-career artists and curators from underrepresented Global Majority and working-class backgrounds.

Associates will work closely with the Deptford X team, receiving structured support to develop their practice, build networks and contribute to future programming.

Apply by 26 January.

And finally…

Mental health support is becoming part of the job

The myth of the “tortured artist” is slowly being dismantled. Speaking to The Guardian, the founder of mental health organisation Artist Wellbeing argues that great work doesn’t need suffering to exist – and that better support can deepen creative practice.

As wellbeing becomes more embedded across theatres and cultural organisations, burnout is losing its status as a badge of honour.

Read the full piece in The Guardian.