Creative Conversations in the Classroom

 Careers Talks Across Scotland 

With Accompanying Teacher Resources

Are you, or the young people you teach, interested in applying to study in the performing and production arts? Are you not sure where to start or what careers there may be? Fair Access have produced a suite of films and resources that can help making those decisions.

What is ‘Creative Conversations in the Classroom’?

Creative Conversations is a series of short films and accompanying teachers’ resources. The aim is to give young people an insight into what it’s really like to work in the creative industries.

​Each film features three professionals who work in a specific area of the performing or production arts in conversation with each other, and with an audience of secondary school pupils. At the end of each film, young people from the audience describe the impact this conversation has had on them. The Teachers’ Resources provide questions to get your own conversations in the classroom started after watching the film. ​

The Creative Conversations series includes artists working in:

All the films can be viewed at home, on your mobile devices or as a group in your classrooms or community spaces. You can also access them via our Toolkits page.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear about how you use these resources in your classroom or if you’re a young person that has found them useful in learning more about career options. You can say hello on our social media or if you have any questions about these resources, please get in touch at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Creative Conversations: Play Therapy and Documentary Filmmaking

 Creative Conversations 

Play Therapy and Documentary Filmmaking.
Open to all Fair Access Students, RCS Staff and Students

Fair Access are running an exciting new series of Fair Access Creative Conversations focused on Community Arts in Scotland. Come along to one, or to the whole series to find out more about Community Arts in Scotland.


Play Therapy with Izzy Joss

Woman with bobbed hair and smiling
Our first Creative Conversation features from Izzi Joss who will be speaking about Play Therapy. Izzi is a freelance actor, creative collaborator and drama facilitator with over 20 years experience in this field. 


Young woman with bobbed dark hair, smiling in front of a video camera

Documentary Filmmaking with Bircan Birol

Our second Creative Conversation features filmmaker Bircan Birol. Bircan is a Glasgow-based non-fiction filmmaker/artist who will be speaking about the importance of self-representation and working ethically with diverse communities. Bircan will be talking about creative documentaries and how they go beyond usual TV and factual work. She’ll touch on finding your own way, style, and voice in the world of non-fiction filmmaking.


 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access Community Choir

 Fair Access Community Choir 

Wednesday Evenings, 6 – 7:30pm at RCS

Woman singing with words: Fair Access Community Choir

We’re excited to invite you to our new, weekly Fair Access Community Choir, here at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland led by Anna Ghazal.

Anna is a community choir leader who conducts choirs in Glasgow, including the RSNO Workplace and Buggy Choirs. As the Creative Learning Producer at the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS), she focuses on making music accessible and inclusive. 

The Fair Access Community Choir is open to all current and past Fair Access students and staff. This includes Get Into, WACI and Transitions participants and their families and support networks.

All levels and voices are encouraged to join. No previous singing experience is required. There’s no audition and no pressure to attend every week. 

You will experience sight reading and build general musicianship skills so this will be useful for instrumentalists, for musical theatre and those interested in teaching as well as fun, social and healthy. 
Text: Apply Now

Please note: Under 13s must be accompanied by an adult.

Fair Access prioritise those facing barriers in accessing the arts such as those who are:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

How to Contact Us

If you have an queries or questions about this activity, you can contact the team at: 📧 fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access: Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day

 Fair Access: 

 Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day 

Saturday 27 July at RCS Wallace Studios, Glasgow

Workshop day with 2 free workshops. Come to one or come to both!

Fair Access is excited to invite you to our Big Sing and Big Street Dance Day, here at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Based at the Wallace Studios for the day, you can attend one or both of the workshops that are supportive sessions open to beginners.

A man on stage street dancing Students with choir master

Big Street Dance
10:30am – 12:30pm, 
Room RS3

Big Sing
1pm – 3pm, Room RS3

Join Adam McMillan of THREE60 for an introductory workshop in Street Dance.

Adam is a Scottish dance artist who has developed a unique style. He mixes Hip-Hop with a touch of contemporary-inspired movements. Adam’s mission is focused on sharing Hip-Hop culture authentically and passionately.

Join Anna Ghazal in the afternoon to experience the joy of singing together.

Anna is a community choir leader who conducts choirs in Glasgow, including the RSNO Workplace and Buggy Choirs. As the Creative Learning Producer at the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS), she focuses on making music accessible and inclusive. 


Text: Apply Now

Booking Deadline: 23 July 2024

Please note:

Fair Access prioritise young people aged between 16 – 19 who are facing barriers in accessing the arts, such as those:

Get in touch if you would like us to check your postcode for you. 

Contact Us

You can contact the team at fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Get Into: Performing and Production Arts

 Get Into: 

 Performing and Production Arts 

Performance, Production, Singing and Community Arts

For pupils S5 & S6 or Young People 16+

Woman performing for school children

Starting Autumn 2024

Would you like to Get Into: Performing and Production Arts but not sure where to begin? Our free Get Into courses could be the perfect answer. 

We’re running four separate programmes starting this Autumn:

  • Performance (acting, devising and dance)
  • Production for Stage and Screen (sound, lighting and camera)
  • Singing Together (confidence building and vocal leadership)
  • Community Arts (leading creative projects with communities)

These free weekly part-time sessions will be a great opportunity for you to:

  • Build your confidence
  • Develop your skills in your chosen field
  • Meet others who love the same thing as you

*Sign Ups are now closed*

Please note: Fair Access will prioritise those aged 16-19 facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Get In Touch 

If you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Come and Try: CLPL Sessions for Teachers

 Come and Try: 

 CLPL Sessions for Teachers 

Wednesday Evenings in May 2024

Two people discussing a script onset A conductor practicing his score with an ensemble Dancer in a studio practicing

WACI are delighted to be offering three new Career-Long Professional Learning (CLPL) sessions for secondary teachers this coming May:

All sessions are free and take place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Aimed primarily at secondary teachers who work in schools with large catchments of SIMD1 areas, you can find out more and sign up by clicking the links above. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities, please email: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Trip: Inter/Sections

 Performance Trip: Inter/Sections at RCS 

Wednesday 13 March, 7pm – 9pm

RCS, 100 Renfrew St, Glasgow G2 3DB

Join us at RCS to watch the multi-artform production of Inter/Sections. This production is a fantastic opportunity to experience an array of different artistic practices.

Words: Performance Trip Intersections. Two dancers on a darkened stage with string running through their fingers

Not only does Inter/Sections promise to feature great performances but is also a celebration of the many Fair Access alumni involved. Come along for a preview of what some of our previous Fair Access students are doing now as this show brings together RCS students in Music, Music Composition, 3rd year students in Contemporary Performance Practice and Production Technology and Management programmes. 

Click on the button to apply for free tickets via our form.

* Applications now closed *

Deadline: 6 March, 12 noon

Please note: Fair Access works with young people facing barriers in accessing the arts, such as those who are:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

Contact Us

You can contact the team at fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Fair Access Ambassadors At A School Near You!

 Fair Access Ambassadors 

 At A School Near You 

Visiting Schools Across Scotland

Two senior pupils holding RCS leaflets

Our Fair Access Ambassadors are an energetic posse of young people. Already part of Transitions or Widening Access to the Creative Industries, they are helping us spread the word about Fair Access in their schools and communities.

Our Ambassadors have a love and passion for the production or performing arts and are determined that other young people from Fair Access backgrounds have the same opportunity to get involved. Ambassadors meet several times over the year to plan campaigns in partnership with Fair Access and then put these into action with our support.

This year the Ambassadors are teamed up with Guides who were themselves part of Transitions and are now undergraduate students at RCS.

Look out for a Fair Access Ambassador speaking about Fair Access opportunities at a school near you, particularly if you live in Ayrshire, Inverclyde or Glasgow. 

Between them, Thomas in Port Glasgow High, Angie in Robert Burns Academy and Erin in Castlemilk High school have spoken to a whopping 496 pupils and 50 teachers. The next stop on the Fair Access roadshow is at Auchenharvie Academy with Ambassadors Emma and Lucy. Watch out for them! 
 
Why is it worth being part of Fair Access? According to our Ambassadors… 

‘You can find your own creative expression through Fair Access. Give it a go – nothing to lose!’ 

‘It’s a top rated place and you could get these opportunities for free!’ 

‘RCS is a safe space and discrimination isn’t tolerated’ 

‘Everyone has been lovely and I’ve made so many friends’ 

Directing Skills for Pupils and Teachers

 Directing Skills Workshop 

For Pupils and their Teachers

Two young women sitting looking at scripts

Fair Access brought together Neil and Linda, both experts in their own fields, to work alongside pupils and teachers exploring directing skills. The session aimed to inspire pupils with the confidence to direct for Higher and Advanced Higher Drama, giving them practical skills to put into action, but also ensuring what they did fitted the SQA marking criteria for directing. It was a brilliant session involving pupils from eight different schools. Here are some comments: 

‘Thank you so much, it was an amazing opportunity and so informative. I now know that I want to be a director for sure!’

Pupil, Paisley Grammar



‘The session was very helpful in relation to SQA marking guidelines for Higher. It was very effective in boosting my own confidence and it was fabulous to see my pupils grow in confidence directing! I feel much more comfortable to present directing candidates.’

Teacher, Levenmouth Academy

 Get in touch 

If you’d like to find out about more opportunities for you and your pupils, contact the team at: fairaccesshello@rc.ac.uk 

Get Into: Performing and Production Arts Update

 Get Into: Performing and Production Arts Update 

Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Production, Singing and Guitar

Two people standing in a darkended room experimenting with lighting

This term, Fair Access has been running a fantastic programme of ‘Get Into’ courses designed as pathways towards further training in higher education.

Forty-five young people from across Scotland attend weekly workshops to develop their skills and confidence in either Production Arts and Technology, Guitar, Musical Theatre or Filmmaking (which focuses on either Script Writing or Post-production Sound).

Young woman showing a prop

We are especially delighted to be working in partnership with Eden Court Theatre in Inverness to host a further ‘Get Into: Production’ course, which focuses on prop making and includes a work experience placement at RCS.

Courses are led by RCS tutors and freelance artists, many of whom are RCS alumni, now working professionally. In January we are excited to offer ‘Get Into: Singing’ as part of this programme. 

 Want to know more about our ‘Get Into’ programmes? 

Look out for more Get Into programmes that you can sign up for next Spring. If you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk