the hidden artist programme

The Hidden Artist Programme is a 4-part programme. It combines career strategy, fundraising, audience development & mentorship; all tailored to the real-world needs of grassroots & marginalised creatives.

who is it for?

The Hidden Artist Programme is for early to mid-career creatives who want to strengthen their practice, build confidence, and access real-world support.

It’s especially designed for:

▶ Global Majority, LGBTQ+, disabled & neurodivergent artists

▶ creative freelancers, producers, collectives & small organisations

▶ those navigating funding for the first time or returning after a break

▶ artists looking to build community connections, grow their team, or develop strategy alongside their craft.

Mariana Pinho

Mariana Pinho

Aida Diop

modules

1: Building Relationships
Theme: Who do you need & who wants you?

▶ map your current network & where to grow
▶ understand creative, venue, funder & PR partnership dynamics
▶ develop a strong 60-second pitch

Takeaways: safer space agreement draft, partnership map, elevator pitch

2: Community Engagement
Theme: Who are you reaching & how?

▶ map your cultural/community ecology
▶ align engagement plans with funder outcomes (ACE Let’s Create)
▶ design authentic strategies for reaching your audience

Takeaways: community map, ACE-aligned engagement plan, application-ready phrases

3: Building Your Team
Theme: Who’s on board & how do you structure success?

▶ assess your core & project team needs
▶ cost roles correctly using union rates & budget planning
▶ build job specs & conflict management plans

Takeaways: visual team structure, job spec templates, good management checklist

4: Fundraising & Finance
Theme: Where’s the money & how do you get it?

▶ explore mindset barriers around money
▶ build funder-aligned budgets & proposals
▶ complete draft applications using live templates

Takeaways: budget + narrative, funder alignment map, proposal worksheet

Suntou Susso & Father

outcomes & impact

By the end of the programme, participants report:

▶ increased clarity in their creative direction & professional goals

▶ stronger funding knowledge - with many submitting successful bids

▶ improved partnerships & audience engagement strategies

▶ clear action plans, policies & documents to support future growth

▶ greater confidence navigating the wider creative ecology

Over 90% of previous participants have continued into mentoring, secured new opportunities, or developed new collaborative projects as a direct result of the course.

Meesh Denny

FAQs

  • Artists, producers, creative freelancers & collectives - especially those who face structural barriers in the arts. Many participants identify as Global Majority, LGBTQ+, disabled or neurodivergent.

  • Yes. We work with organisations to adapt the programme for different demographics, artforms or access needs, including SEND & early-career cohorts.

  • Each module is delivered face-to-face over a 4-week block (5 hours per session). Digital resources & mentoring are included. A full online version will launch mid-2025.

  • 92% of participants improved their confidence in funding & strategy. 71% have gone on to submit ACE applications. The majority report stronger community ties, clearer direction & new collaborations.

  • We’re currently booking delivery for 2025–2026. Reach out to discuss partnerships or join our digital platform waitlist.

  • “Its been so insightful & I’ve already put in a bid to the Arts Council but now having gone through the workbook I know I need to interrogate my work & collaborate locally and apply for an NLPG grant.”

    Hanna , theatre maker - Bristol Creating site specific work for Art in the Park

  • “The Hidden Artist was an incredible tool for finding out more about funding, finance and how I can actually access what’s already there to build my business”

    Simone, Storyteller, Warwick

  • New List Item“This programme has changed my understanding of creativity; I know it’s something I can do and sustain, even as a young Asian woman, I’m so glad my aunty persuaded me to come, you made me so welcome.”

    Sharan, music producer - Leamington

  • “We are now working with Sasolo, we have been established in Coventry for a long time, but we want to work across the region & understanding how to develop our strategy through this course, has made that a reality.”

    David Mills, Media Mania Director - Coventry

  • “We are now working with Sasolo, we have been established in Coventry for a long time, but we want to work across the region & understanding how to develop our strategy through this course, has made that a reality.”

    David Mills, Media Mania Director - Coventry

  • “As a recent graduate its helped me understand how I can get into the dance industry, but also how I can control that by building my own company.”

    Sydney, dancer - Warwick

  • “We really needed to imagine our team’s growth and look at strategies to support that, having this outside eye will make that so much easier now.”

    Jenny, Director arts organisation - Leamington