Creative Pathways Celebration 2026

BRB Board Member Shireenah Ingram delivered a group training session on the programme and provided mentoring and coaching to participants when helping them to curate the celebration event. Here, she reflects on their journey and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of creative talent.

When people look at someone’s career in the arts, they often see the highlights: the performances, productions, achievements and successes. What they don’t always see are the years of uncertainty, setbacks, rejections, moments of self-doubt and countless decisions that happen behind the scenes.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt throughout my own career is that there isn’t one route into a creative career. There isn’t a perfect roadmap or a single audition, training course, degree, job or opportunity that guarantees success. Every creative journey looks different.

My own journey began through a programme connected to Birmingham Royal Ballet called Ballet Changed My Life: Ballet Hoo!, which introduced me to the arts in a way I might never have experienced otherwise. It gave me access and confidence and, perhaps most importantly, permission to believe that a career in the arts was something that could be possible for someone like me.

I don’t think I realised at the time how significant that experience would become. Looking back now, I can see that it wasn’t simply about learning artistic skills; it was about developing resilience, curiosity, confidence and community. It was about meeting people who opened doors, challenged my thinking and helped me imagine a future that was bigger than the one I could see for myself.

That experience is one of the reasons programmes like Creative Pathways are so important to me. The arts industry can sometimes feel difficult to navigate. Opportunities aren’t always obvious, careers don’t always follow a straight line and sometimes the next step simply isn’t clear.

Creative Pathways creates a space for young people to explore, experiment, connect and grow. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring and coaching the cohort, as well as supporting them in the curation of this celebration. It has been wonderful to see them invest in themselves, develop their skills, build relationships and explore what their futures might look like.

I hope the skills and experiences they’ve gained through the programme are ones they will carry with them beyond Creative Pathways. More than anything, I hope they leave knowing that they don’t have to have everything figured out. There is no single path they need to follow, and changing direction or trying something new can be an important part of building a creative career.

Resilience isn’t about never facing challenges. It’s about continuing when things don’t go to plan. It’s applying for an opportunity even when you’re not sure you’ll get it, trying something new, asking questions, learning from mistakes and being willing to take a different path when the original plan changes.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from my own career, it’s that some of the most important opportunities come from saying yes before you feel completely ready.

The Creative Pathways Celebration was a chance to recognise everything the cohort has achieved so far, but also to look ahead to what comes next. This programme isn’t the destination; it’s part of their journey.

I’m incredibly proud of the cohort and the passion, determination and potential they have shown throughout the programme. It has been a privilege to support them and to see their confidence grow, and I’m excited to see where their individual creative journeys take them next.