Nathan McWilliams

Carried out as part of a 10-week Internship in the V&A Dundee. This project explores barriers to entry into creative industries for people from working-class backgrounds. Using a mix of research techniques, I explored these barriers with a focus on storytelling.

At the beginning of the project, I was encouraged to own my story. This inspired me to reflect on my upbringing. Encouraging me to look at the barriers faced by working-class people in accessing creative industries. Focusing on people’s stories directly opposed to pure facts and figures.

By focusing on storytelling people shared their experiences with me from this, key barriers were identified. Language and the Presentation of the Arts, Money, Opportunities, and creative networks. This culminated in two outputs, a series of language frameworks that allow organisations to develop and test language. In terms of creative institutions, this allows them to develop language that is more approachable and accessible. The other output was an open mic discussion night. This created conversation around barriers of entry to design engaged the community and used a workshop as further engagement. The night serves as an ending of the first stage, and currently continuing with the topic to explore the barriers further.