Creative, Cultural, Digital and Media

East Sussex has one of the most exciting creative scenes in the South East, the region is full of organisations looking for new talent - especially young people who want to build a creative career.

If you’re into anything from music, gaming and fashion to film, architecture or animation, you’re already part of the world the Creative Industries are built on. This sector covers everything that entertains, inspires and connects people.

There Are 16 Sub-Sectors in the Creative Industries, These Are:

Media, Music, Photography & Videography, Podcast & Radio, Publishing, Theatre & Performing Arts, Writing & Journalism, VFX & Animation, Advertising, Marketing & PR, Architecture, Arts & Crafts, Culture & Heritage, Design, Fashion, Film & TV, and Gaming.

The film below gives an overview of the creative industries:

Where the Jobs Are Growing

The creative sector in East Sussex is predicted to grow by 7.7%, far above the national average. That means more opportunities - especially in roles that support digital content, design and tech.

In‑demand creative roles in East Sussex right now include:

• Graphic designers
• Digital content creators
• Videographers and editors
• Social media and marketing assistants
• Junior programmers and software developers
• VFX and animation assistants
• Event and production assistants
• Photography and studio assistants
• Theatre technicians and front‑of‑house staff
• Heritage and museum support roles

Many organisations also rely on freelancers, especially in film, events, design, photography, animation and marketing.

Creative Skills Don’t Only Lead to Creative Jobs

One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to work in the creative industries to have a creative career, but there are plenty of roles in other industries that rely on creative people.

You can use creative skills anywhere.

A non‑creative company (like a hospital, charity, sports club or tech firm) still needs:

• Social media content
• Advertising
• Graphic design
• Photography and video
• Marketing and PR
• Website content
• Internal communications
• Event support

Creative skills are needed everywhere - not just in “creative” companies.

Creative organisations need non‑creative roles too, they don’t run on artists alone. The creative industries also need:

• Finance teams
• HR and recruitment
• Admin and operations
• Project managers
• Customer service and box office staff
• Fundraising and charity specialists
• IT and technical support
• Venue managers and duty managers

So even if you’re not a designer or filmmaker, you can still build a career inside the creative industries.

How People Get Started

There’s no single route in, and the specific skills needed to work in the sub-sectors of the creative industries will vary depending on the role. However, entry-level careers in all sub-sectors will need you to have the essential skills defined Skillsbuilder, these are:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Problem Solving
• Creativity
• Adapting
• Planning
• Leadership
• Teamwork

A great way to show you are interested in a specific role or sub-sector of the creative industries can be to build up a portfolio of work, develop on the job skills, or teach yourself software and technical skills. Examples of this could include:

• Customer service and event support
• Writing and communication
• Teamwork and organisation
• Showing a passion for making things - from videos to zines to games
• Using creative software (Photoshop, Davinci Resolve, Blender, Logic, Canva)
• Photography and videography, including shooting and editing
• Basic coding or digital skills

Many people in the creative industries start out self‑taught, turning a hobby into paid work. But there are also a number of educational options across East Sussex that you can take too, such as college courses, apprenticeships, short courses or university routes.

Want to find out about the latest opportunities in the creative industries? 

You can find work experience, events and opportunities across Sussex on DABBBLE. Sign up to the Eric App to find real opportunities across the UK - from creative roles to the behind‑the‑scenes jobs that keep the sector running.

Have a question about creative careers or need some support?

Contact Talent Accelerator, the skills team at De La Warr Pavilion, who would be happy to help. Email Talent Accelerator on talentacc@DLWP.org, or follow them on Instagram for the latest opportunities across East Sussex.

Ready to Begin Exploring a Creative Career?

Watch the job‑role videos below to learn more about the skills, tasks and FAQs for each role, then hit Next to explore your options.