Your Partnership with AA2A for 2025/26

With almost 30 years of experience, we celebrate a rich history and successful record of facilitating over 2000 residency placements across 70 universities and colleges in the UK. Our extensive network includes a diverse group of professional artists and creatives eager to engage with students and support emerging talent.

Key Highlights of 2024/25:

- A 25% increase in seminar attendance compared to the previous year.
- A 150% increase in viewing figures of our seminars on our private YouTube channel.
- Participation of 7 industry expert guest panelists across 4 seminars.
- Introduction of 3 new employability speakers for in-person talks.
- All employability talks delivered in-person.
- A 67% growth in our social media audience over the last year.
- Distribution of over 100, accessible short videos (average 1.5 minutes each) that cater to today's students' engagement preferences. 

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The AA2A artists gave “fantastic teaching workshops that were the most popular workshops with the students”
Coordinator, Leeds 2024

Plans for 2025/26

We are increasingly mindful of the pressures on staff time at our hosts and are making every effort to reduce the administration involved in running a scheme, including a more streamlined application process, which allows for quicker filtering of suitable candidates.

Student Ambassador Program

Our Student Ambassador programme will offer more developmental opportunities to selected students, including providing them with access to one-on-one online mentoring sessions with industry advisors.

Creative Futures

Our commitment to professional practice guidance will continue to grow, with a series of talks and seminars aimed at supporting students' transition into employment:

- Emphasis on self-employment and a broad spectrum of creative career options.
- Refreshed Creative Futures Guide publication, accessible to all host students.
- We aim to increase the number of videos in our support and advice video library.

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“It was very useful for me to listen to those who are already in an artistic career and hear how you promote yourself and sell your work. Thank you!!!!!” 
Student, Anglian Ruskin 2024

Financial and Reputational Value to Your Institution

Financial Benefits:

- All AA2A residency placements are subsidized by over 60%.
- The unsubsidized cost of delivering a similar scheme is estimated between £4500 - £5000.
- The cost for running a scheme with an in-person talk was £1860 in 2024/25, with a slight increase to £1940 for 2025/26.

Cost-Effective Benefits:

- Access to all Creative Futures support materials.
- A new student professional practice scheme including one-on-one mentoring.
- Employability talks and a seminar series featuring industry experts from various sectors.
- Formal and Informal access to professional artists.
- Up to three sessions of talks, workshops, and demonstrations by each AA2A artist.

Reputational Benefits:

- Association with a longstanding, successful program known for its commitment to the arts and education.
- Enhanced visibility and prestige within the academic and artistic communities.
- Attracting leading artists and creatives.
- Enriching the student experience and positioning the institution as a vibrant hub for contemporary arts.
- Valuable networking opportunities that can lead to career development and collaborative projects.
- Aligning with industry standards and enhancing appeal to stakeholders interested in practical and contemporary educational outcomes.

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“The AA2A project allowed me to connect with other artists and share my practice with students who are planning to work in the creative sector” 
AA2A resident, Loughborough 2022

Your partnership with AA2A not only brings substantial financial and reputational benefits, it represents a unique contribution to the nurturing and development of the next generation of artists and creative professionals.