Transmission is working closely with both artists and potential employers to examine ways in which workers in the performing arts can be given the opportunity, at any stage in their career, to develop new skills that will give them access to a much wider range of employment. It is investigating both best practices in current provision and the relevance of distanced learning modules, artist placements and practical training - including the investigation of common approaches to accreditation. Transmission's target group is those trained artists who have traditional performance skills but no formally recognised future employability skills such as entrepreneurial, teaching or management skills. Many may only be employed intermittently as artists in the traditional performing arts sectors and therefore need training and support to increase their employability and mobility. Although there is a growing recognition by government of the role that the cultural sector can play in both providing new employment opportunities and transferable skills, there is a lack, at present, of national or regional policies.
Few opportunities exist for artists to acquire recognised qualifications for such work.
The project is therefore working both with those concerned with the increased employability of the performing artist and those in the third sector who wish to use performing artists within their projects.