"Only do this if you really feel there’s nothing in this world you could possibly do instead... But if like me and this is your life, fight with everything you have, find a self-loving way to deal with the losses and genuinely celebrate the victories, no matter how small they may seem."

Melanie Shee wears many hats! She is a Partnership Manager for CC Skills, helps creative businesses get off the ground, and is a freelance trainer, educator and assessor.

The protest song is alive and well, in no small part thanks to the work of Red Eye

"As an artist, a great portfolio is just as important (if not more) than any qualification."

"I’ve been mudlarking since I was a child, I was lucky to grow up near the river, and it was an inevitable part of my life. The river has always given me ‘head space’ and it has also taught me the history of London!"

"The greatest feeling is hearing a piece you've written performed by great musicians for the very first time. It's as though the music suddenly goes into three dimensions, or moves from black and white to technicolour. It sends shivers up my spine."

"When I started comedy I didn’t realize it could be a job, I just loved it and wanted to do it every day. So while I did comedy I was a salon receptionist, waitress, and back-up nanny... I also majored in sociology so once you do that you’re never going to have a real job."

Artist, composer, creative director and writer Verity Lane talks about living in Japan for 10 years, and how that influenced her work and her approach to life

We catch up with Natalie Ben Rabah about her career in Arts Marketing and what makes the industry so unique

'Don’t be afraid to ask people for help along the way and be persistent... If you want to carve out a career in the creative and cultural industries, then you will make it happen'

Barbara Matthews MBE has had a long and illustrious career in the arts, and has now worked in the education sector for over five years. We talk about her highlights, the struggles, and what changes she has seen in the industry.

We caught up with Julie Southam, who did her Gold Arts Award ten years ago, about how her portfolio informed the work she does now at Havas Lynx in Manchester.