WYCreate is a brand new series of FREE training opportunities for creative freelancers and microbusinesses in West Yorkshire.
WYCreate has brought together some of the best industry experts in the country to help freelancers and microbusinesses to grow and thrive, by providing tailored creative industries skills development and business support. To date, 90 West Yorkshire-based creative freelancers and microbusinesses have received training in subjects ranging from branding and marketing to financial management for freelancers, to AI for creative businesses. In 2025, partners including Bradford Producing Hub, Everybody Arts and Quiplash will be rolling out new training in sustainable creative practice, exploring how to deliver creative health projects, diversity, building creative networks, immersive tech and access to funding.
Our 2025 programme will offer a wide range of courses delivered by some of West Yorkshire’s best and most established creative networks, including Music Local in Leeds, Everybody Arts in Halifax and Bradford Producing Hub.
Featuring both online and face-to-face delivery, the programme is designed to address the evolving needs of those working in the creative sector by enhancing your skills and knowledge of new markets and new opportunities.
Key elements will include:
· Practical advice on navigating new markets
· Updates on the latest trends, tools and techniques in content production
· Gaining business growth through new networks and collaborations
· Insight from award-winning creative industry experts
All training is FREE for artists, freelancers and microbusinesses (0-9 employees) based in West Yorkshire. Eligible artists and freelancers can benefit from financial support toward costs of travel and attendance.
An Introduction to Immersive Media Technology
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Wakefield, Production Park
Join the Academy of Live Technology at Production Park on Tuesday 25th March and get lost in the world of immersive technology. Presenting a unique one-day opportunity to be absorbed into the constantly evolving world of immersive media technologies, including a practical introduction to Virtual Production and an exploration of recent innovations in LED and integrated media control solutions. You will get to see the creation of immersive environments with a hands-on demonstration in a state of the art, LED volume studio with special capture and camera tracking with both 3D and 2D environments. There will also be the chance to ask any questions to a panel of industry leaders, concluding with networking opportunities.
Bridging Creativity and Heritage: Collaborating with Heritage Organisations
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Monday 07 April 2025 - please note change of date
Online Workshop with Interactive Elements
10.00 - 13:00
This 3-hour online course is designed specifically for micro businesses and freelancers in the creative sector who are interested in collaborating with heritage organisations in West Yorkshire. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the types of heritage organisations active in the region, explore potential partnerships, and develop strategic planning skills for successful collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will leave with:
1. A solid understanding of heritage organisations available in West Yorkshire and how they function.
2. Practical skills for identifying and seizing collaboration opportunities.
3. Tools for creating effective collaboration proposals.
4. Strategies for maintaining strong relationships with heritage organisations.
Care-full creativity
Resilient Practices that Sustain Wellbeing and Creativity for Cultural Sector Freelancers
Thursday 10 April 2025 - please note change of date
10:00 - 16:00
The Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax.
Freelancers in the cultural sector, particularly those engaged in public-facing work, face unique challenges that impact their wellbeing, creativity, and professional longevity. The demands of public engagement, and the need to balance creativity with work-life responsibilities can contribute to high levels of stress and burnout.
How can cultural sector freelancers develop resilient practices that maintain wellbeing and sustain creativity? Designed for practitioners with a public engagement element to their work, this training will better equip practitioners within their day-to-day work by providing advice, guidance, tools and methods to maintain a regenerative and restorative creative practice, including the maintenance of professional boundaries.