Routes In has been providing entry points into the creative industries within Greater Lincolnshire for almost three years. Made possible through Arts Council England, the programme has offered a diverse range of roles across both the Barbican Creative Hub and Lincoln Arts Centre – including technical, creative programming, administrative and marketing assistant positions.

Meet our current Routes In cohort; Tom, Amber and Zendon, as they share with you the impact joining the programme has had on them.

We recognise that breaking into the arts can be challenging; ability and drive can be found everywhere in Greater Lincolnshire, but opportunity for early careers is not. As the arts and cultural sector continues to grow across the UK, its important we meet this need by investing into our future cultural workforce. Routes In exists to remove the barriers to participation for early career creatives.

In the last three years, we have had over 600 applicants for just six roles. The overwhelming demand speaks for itself. These roles offer that vital early job in the arts, providing a pathway to build a lasting career within the sector. This is a space to try things out. To fail safely. To learn. To build confidence, skills and become a part of a community. 

At its heart, Routes In is about unlocking the potential of a generation, driving professional growth, and plugging those identified skill gaps. It’s about the aspiration to have a more resilient, more talented and therefore more vibrant cultural workforce locally in the coming years.

Removing barriers

Both our application and interview process are designed with access in mind, ensuring fair opportunity and removing barriers that often prevent many from finding their way into the arts.

We don’t look for specific requirements such as extensive professional experience; instead, we are interested in each applicant as an individual – their motivations, the perspectives they bring, and their approach to creative work. We acknowledge that ‘early career’ does not necessarily mean ‘young’, and we actively celebrate diversity, recognising that a variety of perspectives and voices make both us and the sector stronger. 

Meet Our Current Routes In Cohort:

“My experience within the Routes In programme has been incredible. I’ve been thrown right into the middle of Lincolnshire’s art scene surrounded by all the support I could need. The opportunities have been abundant from training, attending marketing conferences to working on large campaigns. I’ve found a network of brilliant artists and creatives. Importantly I always felt like my voice was heard and valued. I had room to make mistakes to learn from. The trajectory of my career in the arts is looking brighter and hopeful. Opportunities like these a rare and I really wish more people could take the path I have taken.”

– Tom Hall Boehringer, Marketing Assistant at Lincoln Arts Centre and Barbican Creative Hub

“Being a part of the Routes In programme at Lincoln Arts Centre has been transformative for me. It’s given me the confidence, skills, and trust to step outside of my comfort zone, expanding from a background within visual arts into theatre and live events. I’ve gained essential learning and a much deeper understanding of the UK’s arts & cultural landscape, which I know will be invaluable to my career going forward. I feel incredibly grateful to have had the chance to grow in such a supportive and inspiring environment, that has helped me discover my potential.”

– Amber Jesson, Creative Programmes Assistant at Lincoln Arts Centre.

“Routes In has provided me with a safe environment where I never feel judged for making mistakes. I came from a retail job where I just felt stuck – I was desperate to get back into the creative sector but it’s so difficult when you’re first starting out. I needed that entry-level role where I had room to make my own path and bring my passions together. This role has given me the skills to get my career moving and I feel so much more hopeful for the future.”

– Zendon Page, Arts Admin Assistant at Barbican Creative Hub.

The next step

As we reach the three-year milestone of our National Portfolio Organisation funding, it’s important to reflect on the transformative impact this programme has already made, and to look ahead to what comes next.  

“Routes In was created to address the challenges of finding a way into the arts, and it’s clear we have struck a chord. Opportunities like this remain few and far between within the sector, yet our experience shows the demand is there and the untapped talent is boundless. We’re now looking for funders and partners who would be willing to invest in the future with us, and scale the scheme. Over the next year we are designing Routes In +, which is a multi-year programme, supporting people to have a Routes In, a route through and potentially into shaping the future as a leader as a trustee of an organisation.”

– Ben Anderson, Creative and Executive Director at Lincoln Arts Centre

This message comes directly from us – the Routes In cohort. We have had the privilege of working on this project and sharing our individual Routes In journeys and if we could share one more thing; it is that we hope to see the program continue to grow and help those, who like us, just needed a foot in the door

Get in touch with our team, if you would like to support the programme. Additionally, if you are an organisation who is in receipt of funding, we can also help you recruit through Routes In.

The next round of vacancies in Spring 2026.

Photo & video credit: Electric Egg.