Pictured are Affy, Tamika and Jamal Green at the Eastern Colleges Group's World of Work Festival in Bury St Edmunds.
A BAFTA winner and a drummer working with the Pet Shop Boys were just two of the speakers at an all-day event that championed creative industry careers.
The WOW (World of Work) Festivals take place every month at the University Studies centre, West Suffolk College and the BAFTA winner (Jamal Green) and drummer (Affy Green) (who first gigged at Pot Black in Bury St Edmunds before headlining Glastonbury this year) were both former students of the Bury St Edmunds educational facility.
The two (Jamal and Affy) were joined by their sister (award winning journalist Tamika Green) and they all gave advice and reflected on their journeys during an occasion that also included around 20 exhibitors, practitioners and organisations offering advice and mentoring for students pursuing careers in the expressive industries.
Photographer Lee Strickland.
Jamal - who recently won a BAFTA for his composing role for the game Toem said: “I used to study music at West Suffolk College. It (studying at West Suffolk College) taught me a lot and it was cool to come back. My message to others is to get started right away and don’t be afraid.”
Affy studied music performance at West Suffolk College in 2006. Affy said; “We need creative people so my advice would be to stick with it and believe in yourself.”
Jo Wiltcher from Benton End
In addition to the Green family, other speakers included Lee Strickland, a photographer who has worked for Vogue, Jake Mehew, an artist and musician who has just completed a residency at Snape Maltings, Forward Prize winning poet Rachael Boast – along with numerous commercial and charitable organisations including Benton End House and Garden Trust and Screen Suffolk.
Rebecca Harper from Suffolk Archives
Another of the visitors was Rebecca Harper from Suffolk Archives. Rebecca said: “I came along as I think it’s important to engage with lots of different people.
“In relation to advice, I’d say I believe volunteering is a big part of getting into careers. I volunteered in museums and I learnt much from other people and networked. If you volunteer you also have your ear to the ground when jobs come up.”
Claire Wallace from the Suffolk and Cambridgehsire Regiments
Claire Wallace is the curator at the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiments Museum. Claire also attended and said: “I explained to young people what we do in museums and suggested that it’s good to find a passion and never pass up an opportunity.”
The event was initiated by the ECG Curriculum Initiatives Manager, Jonathan Boast. Jonathan – who used to be a roadie for The Rolling Stones said: “We had over 300 students from across the Eastern Colleges Group and more further afield. It was a phenomenal event. My highlight was the level of engagement and inspiration students gained from interacting with such incredibly talented and diverse creatives of such a high professional calibre.”
Charlie Saunders
Charlie Saunders, 16, from Bury is studying on a film and media level three course at West Suffolk College. Charlie said: “I found (the event) really informative. It’s good to hear what to expect and not be thrown in at the deep.”
The WOW (World of Work) Festivals take place thanks to the European Social Fund (ESF) Higher Place project. The next WOW event will take place on 12 January 2023 with a focus on health, education, psychology and social sciences. If you would like to get involved you can email the event’s organiser This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.