For our next instalment of this blog series, we interviewed ACM’s Events Team! They explained their roles, our upcoming events and new Subject Specialists, as well as key information for students and applicants during this period of transition.
1) What are your roles at ACM and tell us a little bit about yourselves?
I am the Events and Outreach Manager at ACM London. My role here is to meet young creatives and discuss how ACM can help them reach their full potential and goals!
Nicole Ireland – ACM London Events and Outreach Manager
I’m the Events and Outreach Manager at ACM Guildford. My job is a bit of a mixed bag but mainly involves speaking to people about working in the creative industries in the future and how ACM can be a part of that through the courses we offer. As a team, we attend all sorts of events up and down the UK like careers fairs, UCAS exhibitions, festivals, and corporate events to spread the word. We’re also responsible for managing and coordinating ACM workshops and sessions in schools and visits to ACM in the form of open days, campus tours, and workshops on our sites.
Simba Mlambo – ACM Guildford Events and Outreach Manager
I am the Events and Outreach Manager at ACM Birmingham. My role is to inspire and educate young people about the creative industries, what opportunities are out there for them and how ACM can help them achieve their goals. I studied at the Music Production degree at Guildford, the industry connections and opportunities were amazing.
Katie Kukla – ACM Birmingham Events and Outreach Manager
2) What have you learnt most from attending our Digital Events over the last year?
It’s been amazing to see how the industry has come together during this difficult time and it’s been so inspiring to see hundreds of young creatives continue to strive for a successful future. I think these digital events have taught me that society will also find a way to flourish, even in unpredictable circumstances.
Nicole Ireland – ACM London Events and Outreach Manager
Seeing face to face events transform into a digital industry has been very interesting. This time last year I could never imagine a world where we could still be able to speak to thousands of people on a virtual event platform.. it has shown me that any industry will always continue to innovate and develop new ways of working. The Music Industry itself has developed in so many different ways, and for the better! Gigs being streamed online is an amazing development and is actually really exciting as it means people from all over the world can enjoy music from their own homes!
Katie Kukla – ACM Birmingham Events and Outreach Manager
3) When are we bringing back in-person events and what are you most looking forward to over the coming weeks and months?
Like with everything at the moment, the return of large-scale physical events is subject to government guidance but with the recent news, we’re hoping we’ll be back at it in June/July with no further delays, fingers crossed! I’m mostly looking forward to interacting with people face-to-face in different settings and environments. It’s a big part of what we’ve lost with events in the current format so definitely, I’m definitely looking forward to being on the road again!
Simba Mlambo – ACM Guildford Events and Outreach Manager
Whilst the development of online events has been really great, I really miss interacting with people face to face. I am really looking forward to engaging with young people from all over the country again, and learning from them just as much as they can learn from me.
Katie Kukla – ACM Birmingham Events and Outreach Manager
4) What are Subject Specialists and how can they help with the ACM application process?
Subject Specialists are specialist tutor representatives for each of our courses. They’re the experts with the knowledge about how our courses are delivered but also the industry experience to pass on to interested potential students. They’re there to help give applicants that extra little bit of information about the industry they’re hopefully striving towards.
Nicole Ireland – ACM London Events and Outreach Manager
Get in touch with one of our Subject Specialists today via our website!
5) What upcoming events are there for applicants and students?
We have lots of digital open days coming up, including Subject Specific Digital Open Days to create a more niche experience for your chosen pathway. We also have digital Metrop VIP evenings to give an insight into ACM’s relationship with Metropolis Studios and how you can get involved in this. We’re also running a series of online bootcamps (music theory, songwriting & DAW) so that you can learn before even joining ACM! Visit our Events Page for more info!
Nicole Ireland – ACM London Events and Outreach Manager
Open Days are always one of the best ways for anyone interested to get a really good picture of what ACM is all about. We tend to have a digital open day running every month but in April we also have a set of Subject Specific Open Days so attending either one of those is always a good place to start.
Simba Mlambo – ACM Guildford Events and Outreach Manager
6) How can the ACM community contact you for more information or guidance?
We are available at events@acm.ac.uk and are happy to talk to you and provide guidance on anything you may need. We look forward to hearing from you!
Nicole Ireland – ACM London Events and Outreach Manager