Next week sees the launch of University Women in the Arts, a mentoring scheme for female university students on arts courses.
The scheme responds to the low numbers of women students in the arts represented in the industries after graduation.
Examples given are that only 30% of artists represented by galleries in London are female and British Theatre Consortium statistics assert that only 31% of professional playwrights are female.
Arts university Central Saint Martins, the Women of the Future Programme and writers development organisation Writers at Work Productions, with Tonic Theatre are behind University Women in the Arts.
Lucy Kerbel, founder of Tonic Theatre, said, “I think this scheme is a brilliant idea. Young women who are keen to build careers in the arts often have to look harder for role models than their male counterparts. Consequently, a programme such as this which connects female students with trailblazing women is hugely valuable because it makes it all the easier for them to visualise themselves in top roles.
"Furthermore, hearing in detail how these women have achieved the success they have, and being able to begin to translate that to their own artistic and professional journeys is something that could make all the difference to a young woman when navigating the tricky initial steps into her career in the arts.”
A one–off scheme, it will support ten female students over a year; mentors include Royal Court Theatre artistic director Vicky Featherstone, English National Ballet artistic director Tamara Rojo and Penguin Books managing director of Penguin Joanna Prior.
Application and full scheme details will be available after 4 March.