Creative Careers

Creative Careers Gallery

Glow Newcastle has partnered with organisations such as North East CA, Discover! Creative Careers, Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues and Screen Skills to create a gallery of Creative and Cultural Careers, as a way of encouraging young people to think about cultural and creative careers when making choices about their future.

Professionals working at all levels of the Creative and Cultural Sector answer the same questions:

Could you tell us who you are, what you do and something about yourself?
Could you describe your role and what you actually spend your time doing? What would somebody need to like doing in order to enjoy your job?
How can people get into your job? How did you?
Do you have any advice for people who want to work in Arts and Culture?

Navigate directly to the Creative Careers Gallery using the link below or follow the profiles below to watch the interviews that are of interest to you.

Creative Careers Gallery

What job interests you most?

Select the job below to see Glow Newcastle’s careers interview.

Museum Manager

Malavika Anderson is Museum Manager at Newcastle University’s Great North Museum: Hancock.

Malavika’s job involves looking after the museum’s significant collection of local and international historical items.

She also oversees an exciting programme of activities and learning opportunities for people of all ages who want to find out more about the museum.

NGCV and Discover! Creative Careers presents: Malavika Anderson – Glow Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership

Comedian and Event Host

Alex Redman is a North East comedian and event host at the Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Her current stand up show, Sunshine Space Cadet, sees Alex examining life’s twists and turns, her own mental health journey, and the weird and wonderful contradictions of wanting to fit in, while proudly standing out.

Meanwhile her comedy gameshow Foolympics has become a cult hit, championing the silly, the chaotic, and the wonderfully daft among us.

Comedian and Live Host NGCV and Discover! Creative Careers present: Alex Redman – Glow Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership

Head of People and Safeguarding – The Glasshouse

Gemma is Head of People and Safeguarding at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly known as The Sage Gateshead). As part of her role, she meets inspiring and talented people every day.

Gemma studied drama at university, but her career so far has been in Human Resources Management (HR). For Gemma, being part of a not-for-profit performing arts organisation feels like coming full circle, back to her drama roots.

Gemma is passionate about the transformative power of the arts, and their ability to open all of us up to enjoyment and fresh points of view. She believes that taking part in creative activities and projects can change lives.

GLOW Newcastle Creative Careers Gallery Presents: Gemma Johnson – Glow Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership

Multidisciplinary Artist

Lisette Auton is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and writer. As well as being a published author of several children’s books, she is a playwright, a creative practitioner and workshop facilitator, a film and theatre maker, and a performer.

Lisette describes herself as disabled, neurodivergent, and Northern.

Among the books Lisette has published are: THE SECRET OF HAVEN POINT; THE STICKLEBACK CATCHERS; LIGHTS UP. Her latest book, THE STARLIGHT REBEL will be published in 2025.

Lisette has had multiple commissions as a playwright. Her award-winning film, WRITING THE MISSING – A RIVER CYCLE, part one of THE WATER TRILOGY, was commissioned by New Writing North for the Durham Book Festival. The film went on to win the Journal Culture Award 2021 for Performance of the Year.

GLOW Newcastle Creative Careers Gallery Presents: Lisette Auton – Glow Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership

Writer, Songwriter, Performer

Kema Sikazwe, known as Kema Kay, is a prominent Newcastle musican, actor, dramatist and producer.

Kema was brought up in the West End of Newcastle, and spent most of his time as a teenager in a local youth project. There he developed his passion for rap, singing, and songwriting.

Kema’s love of music, coupled with his talent, resilience and hard work, has since led him to perform at the biggest venues around Newcastle, including headlining at the O2 Academy.

While performing as a musician, Kema got interested in acting. He was cast in Justin Kurzel’s 2015 film “Lady Macbeth”, and given a lead role in Ken Loach’s 2016 film “I, Daniel Blake“, which won awards at the BAFTAs and Palme D’Or.

GLOW Newcastle Creative Careers Gallery Presents: Kema Kay – Glow Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership