Young Programmer (OnTheRiseCollective) Voluntary

Join On the Rise Collective

Cheltenham Festivals | Opportunity for emerging creatives aged 18–30

What is it?

Are you passionate about creativity, culture and bringing people together? Want to shape the future of festivals, develop your skills and turn your ideas into live events?

Cheltenham Festivals is looking for people aged 18–30 to join On the Rise Collective (OTRC), our community of emerging creatives and producers.

OTRC is a chance to get behind the scenes of a major cultural organisation, collaborate with other creatives and play an active role in shaping our Festivals.

Each year, OTRC creates and delivers a flagship event or activity as part of one of our four Festivals: Literature, Science, Jazz or Music. You'll be involved from the initial idea through to the live event, with support from the Cheltenham Festivals team.

You'll also have the opportunity to influence our programming and share your perspectives on the direction of Cheltenham Festivals as a charity.

You don't need previous experience in the creative industries. We're looking for people with fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, ideas and a desire to make things happen.

About On the Rise Collective
Established in 2024, OTRC brings together emerging creatives and producers to collaborate with Cheltenham Festivals, developing ideas and creating events and activities across our four Festivals.
Whether you're interested in music, literature, science, the arts or the big ideas shaping our world, we want to hear from you.

What could you create?
Each year, OTRC creates and delivers a flagship event or activity as part of one of
our four Festivals.

What that looks like is up to you.

You could bring together artists, writers, musicians, scientists, performers or speakers. You could experiment with a new event format, explore an issue you're passionate about or create an experience that gets people thinking, talking, making or connecting.

As a member, you'll work alongside the Cheltenham Festivals team and fellow OTRC members to:
 Develop ideas: Bring your creativity, interests and perspectives to the table, developing ideas for events, activities and projects.
 Make things happen: Work collaboratively with fellow members, artists, speakers and producers to develop and deliver a creative project or event, from concept to live experience.
 Shape our Festivals: Influence our programming, experiment with new formats and bring fresh perspectives to our work.
 Have your say: Share your perspectives on Cheltenham Festivals' strategy and direction and help us think differently about how we engage audiences and support emerging talent.
 Build your skills: Gain hands-on experience in programming, event production, project management, marketing, audience development and creative collaboration.
 Build your network: Connect with other emerging creatives, artists, speakers and industry professionals.

No two years are the same. You'll be encouraged to explore your own interests, take creative risks and bring ideas to life with the support of our team.

What's the commitment?
OTRC is a three-year opportunity to develop your skills, build relationships and play an active role in shaping the future of Cheltenham Festivals.

You'll be expected to:
 Attend 6–8 meetings per year, usually online and lasting around 1.5 hours.
 Commit a limited amount of time between meetings to planning, developing and delivering projects, with the level of involvement varying depending on your project. Much of this will take place via WhatsApp and email.
 Attend relevant Festival events and activities where possible, particularly those connected to your project.
 Work collaboratively and contribute your ideas, perspectives and expertise throughout your three-year term.

We understand that everyone has different commitments and we'll work with you to make participation as accessible and manageable as possible.

This is a voluntary, unpaid opportunity. You'll receive a travel stipend to cover costs of travelling to and from any in-person meetings or agreed activities and accommodation will be provided for agreed in-person activities.

What's in it for you?

Being part of OTRC is about more than gaining experience. It's an opportunity to develop your creative practice, build confidence and make meaningful connections within the cultural sector.

You'll gain:
 Practical experience of programming, producing and delivering live events.
 An insight into how a major arts and cultural organisation operates.
 Opportunities to work with established artists, speakers, scientists, industry professionals and emerging talent.
 Support and guidance from Cheltenham Festivals' teams.
 Opportunities to develop transferable skills, build your portfolio and strengthen your CV.
 A network of like-minded creatives and lasting connections across the industry.
 The opportunity to influence the future of Cheltenham Festivals and make a tangible contribution to our programmes.

Who are we looking for?
We're looking for curious, creative and motivated people aged 18–30 who are excited by the possibilities of arts, culture and live events.

You might be an aspiring producer, artist, writer, musician, designer, scientist, performer, campaigner or simply someone with a passion for creativity and big ideas.

You might be studying, working, freelancing, exploring your next steps or looking for a way into the creative industries.

We're keen to hear from people with different backgrounds, experiences, interests and perspectives. You don't need formal qualifications, a creative CV or previous experience in event production to apply. What matters most is your enthusiasm, willingness to collaborate, curiosity and commitment to getting involved.

We're particularly interested in people who have ideas about how festivals can better reflect, engage and connect with the communities around them.

About Cheltenham Festivals
Cheltenham Festivals is a pioneering charitable organisation that creates world-class cultural experiences through its annual Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals alongside our education, community and talent development programmes and free programmes, including VOICEBOX.

Our mission is to collaborate to create experiences which bring joy, spark curiosity, connect communities and inspire change, to progress our vision of a world in which everyone can explore and create culture. We are a catalyst for creativity, learning, and innovation - fostering talent, building community engagement, and championing access to culture.

How to apply
We're keen to make the application process as accessible as possible. You don't need to submit a formal CV or have experience of writing applications.

To apply, tell us about yourself, covering the following:
 A little about yourself and what you're passionate about.
 Why you'd like to join On the Rise Collective.
 What does a good event look like?
 Any ideas you might have for an event, activity or project. You don't need to
have a fully formed idea.

Your response can take any format you like: written, audio or video – however you feel comfortable and confident sharing your ideas.

We won't judge your application based on its length, but to allow us to consider all applications fairly, please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words or 4 minutes.

Application deadline: 
How to apply by using the email on the right of this advert or by clicking Apply Now. 

We want On the Rise Collective to be a space where everyone feels welcome,

supported and able to contribute. If you have any access requirements or need
support with your application, please let us know.

Cheltenham Festivals embraces the benefits of diversity so that everyone,
irrespective of individual differences in their identities, background or any personal
characteristics, receives fair and equal treatment in a safe, welcoming and enjoyable
environment.