The visit began with a guided tour of the venue, giving students an insight into how Department operates as a creative and community space. They learnt about the wide range of roles involved in running events and exhibitions, from marketing and event planning to technical production and design. It was a fantastic opportunity to see first-hand the variety of career pathways available within the creative industries.

Students were also able to explore the current exhibition of vibrant carnival masks. The colourful, larger-than-life costumes made a big impression. The exhibition sparked discussion about culture, design, and the creative process, and students were fascinated by the detail and craftsmanship behind each piece.

The highlight of the day was a hands-on workshop challenge. Working in teams, students were given a specific venue, an audience demographic and size, and a set budget. Their task was to design an event concept that linked to the town of Ryde. They then developed their ideas and pitched them back to the group, just as they would in a real-world professional setting.

We were incredibly proud of the creativity, teamwork, and confidence our students demonstrated. Their ideas ranged from community festivals and live music events to interactive exhibitions celebrating Ryde’s history and seaside heritage. The quality of the pitches was outstanding, with students carefully considering budgeting, marketing, and audience engagement.

Students were full of praise for the experience. Comments included, “We had so much fun,” and “The experience was 10/10 – they went above and beyond.” Another student shared, “It was really fun and confidence boosting,” while one reflected on the careers insight gained: “I learnt about so many different career options that are available in drama that aren’t just being on stage.” Many students said they would love to return, with one adding, “I would 100% go again if I got the opportunity.”

It was a valuable and memorable visit that helped students develop important skills in communication, problem-solving, and enterprise, while broadening their understanding of careers within the creative and performing arts industries. We would like to thank the team at Department for providing such a meaningful and inspiring opportunity and to the team at Creative Island for their organisation of the experience. 

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to look at advanced AI robotics programmes, futuristic propulsion systems for cars and boats, and use lots of different VR experiences. On top of all this, we got to look at classic cars from throughout the ages, see iconic F1 cars (and meet some drivers) and watch the Red Arrows up close!