A mentored introduction to the opera and heritage sectors

Streetwise Opera Pioneers is a short, mentored programme designed for people with lived experience of homelessness to take their first steps in exploring careers in the opera and wider arts and heritage sectors — specifically in behind-the-scenes and curatorial roles that support, produce and facilitate the work of an organisation.

This is a paid opportunity — participants will receive payment for their time, at the London Living Wage. There is no cost to take part.

This programme will provide the Pioneers with the opportunity to build knowledge and skills as leaders of the future, bringing fresh eyes and ideas to these vital sectors.

This is not a programme for performers, directors, or designers, but instead focuses on the essential areas that make productions and arts organisations function: producing, marketing, fundraising, administration, and leadership.

This is not a programme for performers, artists, directors, or designers, but instead focuses on the essential roles that make arts and heritage organisations function and help them preserve, interpret and share culture. This might include roles like producing, marketing, fundraising, administration, leadership, archives, collections, and community engagement.

Led by Streetwise Opera alongside arts and heritage partners such as the Museum of Homelessness, the programme will be delivered online and in person by Streetwise staff and heritage partners, offering an insight into the arts and heritage sectors and the skills and people that keep them running.

Who this is for

This programme is aimed at people with:

• Lived experience of homelessness, at any point of their life. Homelessness can mean rough sleeping but can also include sofa-surfing, living in temporary accommodation, unsafe or overcrowded housing and being at risk of domestic abuse. See the legal definition here.
• And a curiosity about behind-the-scenes roles in the heritage and arts sectors, such as marketing and communication, producing, fundraising, customer service, education, producing, curation, archiving, leadership and administration.

What the programme offers

• A short-term training and development scheme designed to build skills over an intensive period. The programme operates at a national level, engaging participants from across the country.
• Mentorship and support from professionals in the arts and heritage sectors, including one-to-one guidance from Streetwise Opera staff and heritage specialists.
• Parts of the programme will be tailored to reflect the individual interests and goals of participants
• Work experience placements within Streetwise Opera or with partner arts & heritage organisations
• A practical introduction to key areas of the sector, including: 

• • Oral history practice, including interviewing, consent, ethics and trauma-informed approaches
  • Archives and collections practice
  • Research skills, including developing timelines, thematic mapping, case studies and exploring social history
  • Public history and interpretation, including exhibitions, digital access and storytelling
  • Creative interpretation and presentation of heritage material for public audiences
  • Creative Producing
  • Marketing and communications
  • Fundraising
  • Customer service
  • Front of house
  • Arts and heritage leadership and administration

This is not a comprehensive training course or a formal qualification, but a dynamic and supportive first step into the industry, offering tools, practical experience, introductions to professional practice and guidance to pursue further opportunities. It is designed to build skills, confidence and access, while offering insight into how arts and heritage projects are researched, developed, shared and led.

1 on 1 mentoring (online or in person) will be offered during the programme to support participants through the programme.