Thirty-five years of opening doors, one room and a whole lot of honest conversation. On 29 September, Peshkar and Young Digitals kicked off Foot in the Door at MediaCity in Salford, the first in a new series of roundtables on how young creative and digital talent finds its way in.
Young artists from our Artist Development Programme and Young Digitals Creative Network sat side by side with agency leaders, business owners and people from screen, libraries and education. Everyone brought an artefact marking their own foot in the door moment, from a handwritten gig poster to a first passport.
Over three lively sessions, the room tackled the vanishing bottom rung of the career ladder, what AI means for young creatives, and who really holds the door open. The big ideas came thick and fast: two ladders instead of one, smaller commissions for more artists, and stepping outside the door to invite people in.
The day also launched the Young Digitals Podcast, with episodes recorded throughout and coming soon. Every guest left with a pledge to open a door for someone in the year ahead, and a white paper capturing the best of the day is on its way.
Next stop: London on Thursday 28 January 2027. Places are limited, so find out more at footinthedoor.peshkar.org.
Peshkar is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation supported by Oldham Council.
