Cheltenham Festivals is looking for people aged 18 - 30 to join OnTheRise Collective, our emerging programmers group.  

Amplify your voice and become a central part of the decision-making process when it comes to Cheltenham Festivals’ events and activities.  

OnTheRise Collective meets at regular intervals throughout the year to create and develop events and activities that respond to the interests and priorities of young people and intersect with Cheltenham Festivals’ programming across music, arts, science and culture. 

You don’t need any previous experience in programming or producing events to be part of OnTheRise Collective, just a desire to get creative, experiment and collaborate.   

Cheltenham Festivals is a charity that aims to bring joy, spark curiosity, connect communities and inspire change through four world-class Festivals in Jazz, Science, Music and Literature, our education, community and talent development programmes, and our free programmes, including VOICEBOX. OnTheRise Collective is a platform where your ideas, opinions and voices can be turned into unmissable live events and activities throughout the year. You will be joining an existing group of three members, who have been part of the Collective since January 2024. 

What Does It Involve? 

• Attend meetings: Eight per year in total, two hours each, some online, some in person.  
• Programming events: Working with our Festival programming teams, you will offer creative ideas, advice and feedback, developing and realising events for young people.  
• Championing your events: Share our programmes and the events you create on social media, get involved in PR and marketing of your events, advocate and support the wider community and year-round work of the Festivals. 

The Important Stuff 

• Although some meetings will be planned as in-person, we will always offer the opportunity to participate online. 
• You’ll receive a travel stipend for any costs travelling to and from meetings or live events. 
• We’ll aim to share meeting dates with you up to 6 months in advance so that you can plan around other commitments. 

What’s In It for You? 

• A chance to get creative: designing events on everything from spoken word, debates and workshops to performance and live music  
• Get involved in the practical side of events: from tech and production to budgeting and scheduling, to experience of creating marketing campaigns to promote events 
• Work directly with well-known names and the best new voices across the creative industries  
• Work with the Cheltenham Festivals team to gain experience from a leading arts and culture charity, being a central part of shaping the programmes and selecting artists and speakers that we work with 
• Be part of a community of like-minded people who care about delivering incredible events and activities for young people 

You’ll also get experience in: 

• Leadership and project management 
• Budgeting  
• Collaborative working  
• A chance to build your self-confidence  
• Lots of networking opportunities with people from across the arts, sciences and cultural industries 

How To Apply 

We would like you to tell us about yourself covering the following themes: 

• Why do you want to be involved in creating events? 
• How do you like to work with others? 
• What does a good event look like? 
• How would you make a Cheltenham Festival event more inclusive? 

Your response can take any format you like: written, audio, video – however you feel comfortable and confident in sharing.  

We won’t judge your application based on its length, but to allow us to consider all applications fairly, please limit your response to a maximum of 300 words / 3 minutes. 

Interested In Applying? 

Send your answer to the above to peoplematters@cheltenhamfestivals.com  

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 8 July 

Got Questions Before You Apply? 

Contact peoplematters@cheltenhamfestivals.com  

Or 

Attend an informal information session on Zoom to find out more and ask questions about OnTheRise Collective: 

Wednesday 26th June, 12.00 – 1.00pm 

Please contact peoplematters@cheltenhamfestivals.com to register your interest and receive the Zoom link.   

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to a workshop morning on Thursday 11th July. This will take place in our offices in Cheltenham. There will be an option to take part in an online workshop for those who can’t travel on this date but wish to attend.  

Summary of Key Dates: 

Wednesday 26th June: online information session (12.00 – 1.00pm) 

Monday 8TH July: Applications close 

Thursday 11th July – workshop morning (10am – 1pm)  

At Cheltenham Festivals we care deeply about inclusive practice and diversity. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Employer who understands the benefits of diversity so that everyone – irrespective of individual identities, background, or any personal characteristics – receives fair and equal treatment in a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment.