Creative Producer Training: Newcastle

NOVUM is Newcastle’s flagship summer festival, celebrating creativity through large-scale performances, installations, and community-led experiences.

As part of your application to the Creative Producer Training Programme, you’ll propose a project idea that reflects your interests and responds to the festival’s co-creation ethos, placing Newcastle’s communities at the heart of the work.

Your idea doesn’t need to be final, but it should show how you might collaborate with residents to design and deliver a public-facing creative project that amplifies local voices and contributes meaningfully to the festival.

The budget available for delivery of the project is c. £15,000 to cover fees and materials for the creation of the work and delivery of the project.  Technical support through the NOVUM Festival delivery team will be available to support the development of ideas.

Creative Producers are people who bring cultural projects to life by combining creative ambition with practical delivery. 

They work across the arts and culture sectors, connecting artistic ideas with planning, coordination, and leadership. These producers are essential to creating work that is relevant, inclusive, and rooted locally.

We encourage applications from emerging producers, artists who currently self-produce, creative practitioners, community leaders, and/or organisers who currently deliver creative projects and activities for their communities, venue-based producers, and those who work in the cultural sector who would benefit from the training. local and community-rooted Creative Producers across Candidates can work across all art forms, including installation, performance, theatre, music, and multi-artform festivals and events.

Candidates must be based in Newcastle or the wider North East across the NECA footprint. This programme is for Creative Producers who are passionate about developing and delivering creative cultural experiences from festivals and performances to workshops, exhibitions, or public events. We want to develop the skills, confidence, and networks to take their ideas further.

We welcome applications from individuals who identify as disabled, or neurodivergent, or with a long-term health condition, people from the global majority or ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, those living in areas of multiple deprivation, carers, migrants, adults in recovery, and those from working-class communities.

This programme is focused on supporting people, not just projects. We ask applicants to share a project idea as part of their application process. This helps us to understand your creative practice, your connection to the community, and how the programme can support your development. Your idea does not need to be final or fully formed, as many participants' ideas change during the programme.

This programme is about building a career, not just projects. It is designed to support your development as a creative leader, enabling you to take ideas from concept to reality while working collaboratively with partners, artists, and communities.

NOVUM is Newcastle’s flagship summer festival, celebrating creativity through large- scale performances, installations, and community-led experiences.

As part of your application to the Creative Producer Training Programme, you’ll propose a project idea that reflects your interests and responds to the festival’s co-creation ethos, placing Newcastle’s communities at the heart of the work.

Your idea doesn’t need to be final, but it should show how you might collaborate with residents to design and deliver a public-facing creative project that amplifies local voices and contributes meaningfully to the festival.

The budget available for delivery of the project is c. £15,000 to cover fees and materials for the creation of the work and delivery of the project. Technical support through the NOVUM Festival delivery team will be available to support the development of ideas.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Are based and working in Newcastle upon Tyne and/or the North East NECA footprint.

• Are available and present for the entirety of the programme stages, including attending NOVUM Festival 2026.

• Are 18 years old or above.

• Have experience of developing and delivering creative or cultural projects within community, arts, music, theatre, events, festivals, projects, or settings etc.

• A core part of the programme seeks to develop new networks. Multiple participants from the same organisation are unlikely to be selected to join a cohort to ensure that people enter the programme open to collaboration with new peers and to prevent siloing of ideas with existing colleagues.

• You do not need to have formal qualifications or previous professional experience to apply.

• The programme is free to attend and includes mentoring, networking, and project support.

• We ask applicants to consider how their project can have a meaningful and lasting impact, and to outline how they plan to share the outcomes of learning with broader audiences and/or communities.

*By applying, participants confirm they are available for all sessions and the final site visit to the NOVUM Festival in August 2026 and understand full participation is a requirement to complete the course.

You must be available to visit the NOVUM Festival to experience the City of Newcastle as a festival site and meet the cohort in August 2026 (final dates and times tbc).

Onboarding
📅 13 November 2026
🕤 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Onboarding & Welcome

Session 1
📅 20 November 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Working with Constraints, Scope, & Communicating ideas

Session 2
📅 27 November 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Understanding Briefs, Mapping the Sector, Competition

Session 3
📅 04 December 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
KPIs, Understanding Stakeholders, influence, interest and decision makers

Session 4
📅 11 December 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Programming to KPIs, Knowing your site, Gateway Pitchdeck

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Session 5
📅 15 January 2027
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Risk Management as a Creative Tool, Draft Deck Presentation, Refining Ideas

Session 6
📅 22 January 2027
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Budgets, Funders & Investors, Resourcing Your Project

Session 7
📅 29 January 2027
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Introducing the EMP & Creative Project Management

Session 8
📅 05 February 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Communicating well, Constructive Feedback

Session 9
📅 12 February 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Understanding Audiences, Pipelines and Funnels

HALF TERM BREAK

Session 10
📅 26 February 2026
🕤 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Preparing to Pitch, Peer support plan

NOVUM FUND APPLICATION

NOVUM FUND PRODUCTION

NOVUM Festival Delivery
(if successful)
📅 August 2027
🕤 Final date/time TBC

Applications will be assessed by an evaluation panel formed of representatives from Newcastle City Council and Curated Place.  

The panel will assess applications based on the applicant’s eligibility and the quality of information provided in the application form. In your application, it is vital to clearly express why you are interested in the programme and how you think this programme will help you to contribute to the development of the cultural and creative industries in Newcastle and the surrounding areas, not just your project idea.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from underrepresented communities and those with a demonstrated commitment to cultural development in the Newcastle and the North East.

The application opens on 1 February 2026 and should be completed and submitted by the application deadline of 1 May 2026 at 5 pm. Applications submitted within this time frame will be taken into consideration by the evaluation panel. Following the selection process, the panel may interview the short-listed programme candidates. These are expected to take place on the 10 May 2026, if required.

Customer (you) – the individual or organisation participating in Curated Place Training

&

Curated Place Ltd (we/us) – 24 Church Lane, Manchester, United Kingdom

This document sets out the terms for taking part in Curated Place training courses and using our materials.

By booking or attending a course, you agree to these terms and conditions.

If you disagree, you must stop the booking process now or leave the course.

Easy Overview

By booking or attending a course, you agree to these terms.

• You must be over 18 years of age and have suitable English language skills.

• Training fees (if not a free course) must be paid within 30 days. – Not applicable to this course

• Cancellations have deadlines: 30 days for public training and 45 days for in-house training.

• All training materials are the property of Curated Place, and you are prohibited from copying or selling them.

• Both Curated Place and you must follow UK data protection laws.

• Either party can end the agreement if the terms are broken or payments are not made.

Application
The terms and conditions, plus any signed contract or online booking confirmation.

Key Definitions

• Agreement – these Terms and Conditions, plus any signed contract or online booking confirmation.

• Business Day – any day other than Saturday or Sunday, or a UK public holiday.

• Charges – the fees payable – if applicable

• Contract for Services – the document confirming the training details and costs.

• Confidential information or non-public information.

• Customer – the person or organisation booking the training.

• Data controller / Data processor – Roles of employees under GDPR.

• Delegate(s) – anyone attending the training on behalf of the customers.

• Documentation – All the printed and online materials delivered by Curated Place.

• GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation and forms part of the UK law under the Data Protection Act 2018.

• Training course – specific to the sessions or workshops, programme delivered by Curated Place.

• Training materials – any materials or documents provided for the training.

• Data Protection Legislation is GDPR, data protection, and any related laws – the Data Protection Act 2018, the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003

• Force Majeure – Curated Place is not responsible for delays caused by events beyond our control, e.g., floods, strikes, etc.

• Changes – Any changes to this agreement must be in writing

• Governing Law – This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales

• Jurisdiction – The courts of England and Wales will handle disputes.

• Party/parties – means the customer and Curated Place together.

When these Terms Start
When you complete an online booking or acceptance form, or
We receive your signed contract or written acceptance letter.

Please note that our advertising or course descriptions are for information only and not part of the contract.

You must accept your placement within 30 days of receipt of the admission offer.

Training Delivery
We will provide the training as described in the contract or as booked online.
We may update the course content at any time, in line with law or regulatory requirements.
We reserve the right to cancel the course training at any time due to force majeure or unforeseen circumstances without liability to delegates. If this happens, we will offer new dates.

Customer Responsibility – You agree to:

• Work with Curated Place to engage in the training.

• Provide accurate delegate information.

• Provide and use suitable equipment to enable you to participate effectively in the online training.

• Attend all course dates and complete required activities.

• Complete required feedback and evaluation forms.

• Credit the programme and partners in future presentations of your project/idea – Curated Place, Newcastle City Council, North East Combined Authority (NECA) and Arts Council England.

Code of Conduct – all participants agree to:

• Arrive on time.

• Listen to and respect other participants.

• Value and respect different opinions and backgrounds.

• Treat everyone fairly without discrimination.

• Support inclusive and safe learning environments.

Eligibility

• You must live, work, or be based in Newcastle or the wider North East.

• You must be over 18 years of age to participate.

• All courses are in UK English; customers and participants must have suitable English language skills.

• You must be able to commit to attending 10 training sessions (online or in person).

• You must allocate one day per week (Monday, 9:30 am–3:30 pm) to attend 10 training sessions and be available to attend the NOVUM Festival in August.

• You must provide accurate information in your application; misleading information may result in withdrawal.

Charges and Payments

• Training fees, if applicable, are calculated per session per delegate.

• Payments must be made within 30 days of the invoice being received and before training starts to the Curated Place bank account.

• Late payment may result in:

  • Your place being withdrawn

  • Certificates withheld

  • Ceasing to provide training

• Late fees will incur interest on the overdue sum of 8% a year.

• Fees exclude VAT, which will be added if applicable.

• Any project development support will be issued separately through Newcastle City Council and is outside Curated Place’s remit.

Cancellations

• Public Training: cancelled in writing at least 30 days before the start date (info@curatedplace.com).

• Public Training may not be cancelled or rescheduled within 30 days of the start date.

• In-house Training: cancelled in writing at least 45 days before the start date (info@curatedplace.com).

• Online or non-classroom training cannot be cancelled, rescheduled, and is therefore non-refundable.

• Refunds, if approved, will be made using the original payment method.

Intellectual Property

• All training materials are the intellectual property and owned by Curated Place.

• The delegate or participant owns their project and the development of the same arising from the training.

• You must not copy, scan, reproduce, or sell any of Curated Place training materials without written permission from Curated Place.

Customer Data

• You own all the data you provide.

• You grant Curated Place and Newcastle City Council permission to use the data as needed to deliver the training.

• Both parties must follow UK data protection legislation.

• We have the appropriate technical and organisational security in place to keep your data safe and will tell you about any data breaches that affect you.

• Only transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) if this is allowed under UK data protection law.

• Respond to any requests or notices we receive from individuals about their data, as required by law.

• Provide reasonable help to the other party when asked, so they can meet their legal duties as a data controller.

• If we receive a complaint from an individual about their data, or are contacted by a regulator about data protection compliance, we will:

  • Tell the other party about it (unless the law prevents us from doing so).

  • Work with the other party in good faith to agree on how and when to respond.

Limitation of Liability
Curated Place is not responsible for:

• Loss of profits, business, income, goodwill, or data.

• Any indirect or special losses.

Our total liability is limited to the total amount you paid for the training.

Nothing in these terms limits liability for death, personal injury, or fraud.

Confidentiality
Each party may need access to the other party’s confidential information to deliver the agreement.

Information is not considered confidential if it is:

• Already public (not through the fault of the receiving party).

• Was lawfully known to the receiving party before being shared.

• Is lawfully given to the other party by someone else.

• Is developed independently by the receiving party.

Both parties agree to:

• Keep all confidential information private.

• Only use it to carry out the agreement.

• Not share it with anyone else unless required by law.

If the law or regulator requires disclosure, the disclosing party will:

• Give as much notice as legally possible to the other party.

• Take the other party’s reasonable requests into account when sharing information.

Curated Place may use customer information anonymously in reports or statistics.

These confidentiality agreements will apply after the Agreement ends.

Termination or Ending the Agreement
Either party can end the agreement immediately if the other party:

• Breaches the terms and conditions and does not fix them within 30 days.

• Takes steps towards or becomes bankrupt, insolvent or stops trading.

Curated Place can end the agreement immediately if payments are not made on time.

If the Agreement ends, the customer must return any training material that has not been fully paid for.

Events Beyond Our Control
Curated Place will not be responsible for any delay or failure to meet its obligation if this is caused by events outside its reasonable control – Force Majeure.

Waiver of Rights

• If either party delays or chooses not to enforce a right under this Agreement, it does not mean the right is lost; parties may still enforce this right in the future.

• If any part of the Agreement is found invalid or illegal, it will be removed. The rest of the Agreement will still apply.

• This Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties. It replaces any previous agreements written or spoken.

• This Agreement does not create a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship. Neither party can act on behalf of the other.