The pilot phase of the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries Scheme has ended in success, with 90% of participants now in paid roles in the cultural and creative industries. The two-year programme, funded by the DCMS, placed 42 arts graduates from non-affluent backgrounds in 6–12 month placements with arts organisations across England. Participants were supported during their placements by personal mentors, offered networking opportunities and paid £15,000 pro rata. Host organisations created new roles for the placements in response to the Scheme: these included Resident Assistant Director at Gate Theatre, Digital Media Officer at Writers Centre Norwich and Arts Development Assistant at Grizedale Forest (pictured). A quarter of these newly created roles have now become permanent and more than half of the participants have been offered extensions to their contracts, some of these being permanent new roles. Those who have moved on have secured jobs in a wide range of institutions, from the Royal Opera House, to Cheshire Dance in Winslow; only two are still job hunting. Kate Danielson, Director of the Scheme said: “The Scheme has surpassed our expectations in almost every way. It was set up to kick start the careers of recent arts graduates – which it has done in all 42 cases, whilst also strengthening the 42 arts organisations who hosted the bursary recipients.” A full evaluation of the pilot phase will now be conducted with a view to the Scheme being continued.