St Catherine’s College is delighted to welcome applications for the

Nick Young Award 2023 

An annual award of £4,700 for a period of work experience at Directors Cut Productions working on the 2023 production of the South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2023

 

About the award

This award was set up in memory of the late Nick Young, an alumnus of St Catherine’s who worked for Directors Cut Productions, and offers a grant of £4,700 to an Oxford graduate for the purpose of gaining valuable experience in television.  The award winner will spend a period of nine weeks working on the Awards with Directors Cut Productions led by Lord Melvyn Bragg.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards Show

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards Show is a unique event in television.  It is the only cross Arts ceremony in the world and celebrates all genres of the Arts.  Categories covered include TV Drama, Literature, Film, Pop and Classical Music, Visual Art, Opera, Dance, Theatre and Comedy.  There are also two special Awards, one for Outstanding Achievement and one for an up and coming artist, nominated for The Times Breakthrough Award.  2023 will be the 27th year of the Awards.

Previous presenters, winners and guests include Helen Mirren, Stormzy, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Ian McKellen, Lily Allen, FKA Twigs, Ken Loach, Tracey Emin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michaela Coel, Grayson Perry, Tom Hiddleston, Amma Asante, Lenny Henry, Judi Dench, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and JK Rowling.  The event also includes live performances.

The Role

Being part of the production team on an Awards ceremony is a valuable opportunity for anyone working in television.  It is multi-faceted and must work in its own right as a single, live event for the guests in the room and also as a standalone broadcast programme a few days after the live event.

The challenges involved in working on the Awards include:  managing tight deadlines and pressurized scenarios; dealing with high-profile individuals; maintaining awareness of developments and current events across the Arts world; suggesting ideas for contributors and artists to take part in the Awards; being involved in both pre-recorded filming sequences and live filming on the day; carrying out meticulous research in order to brief not only Lord Bragg, but also the presenters, nominees, winners and guests on the day.  The award winner will be required to collate large amounts of research information and present it in an accessible manner.  The production company comprises a small and focused team who will all be required to hit the ground running and work across all areas of the production process.  Excellent communication skills are essential, as well as attention to detail and the ability to demonstrate knowledge and enthusiasm for all areas of the British Arts scene.

The Placement

The placement is for nine weeks from Monday 8 May to Wednesday 5 July, including the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July.  Applicants should only apply if they are completely available to work during these dates.  For the majority of the first six weeks of the placement the award winner will be working from home but must be available to attend start up meetings, production meetings and shoots in London.  It is anticipated that the final 2-3 weeks of the placement will be primarily based in London.  Accommodation in London will not be provided and applicants must be UK based and have the right to work in the UK.

How to Apply

Applications should be emailed to the Master’s Office at St Catherine’s College (masters.office@stcatz.ox.ac.uk) no later than 9am on Monday 20 March 2023.

To apply, please provide the following:

  1. CV of no more than 2 pages
  2. A written paragraph explaining what this opportunity to work in television would mean to you, what appeals to you most about the placement and the Awards in particular, and what areas of the Arts most interest you. Please note that this is not an academic exercise.  The interview panel are interested in learning about you as a person.
  3. Suggest a potential presenter for the South Bank Sky Arts Pop Award. You should bear in mind why that person would be the right fit for the show, as well as consider their potential availability, current activities and suitability for the South Bank Show and the Sky Arts brand.  Previous presenters include, Sir Tom Jones, Akram Khan, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Jarvis Cocker, Danielle de Niese, Sam Mendes, Nicholas Pinnock and Stephen Fry.  Please make this outline no more than 200 words.

Application notes:

  • The purpose of the Nick Young Award is to introduce an outstandingly promising graduate of the University of Oxford to television programme-making.
  • Applicants must clearly understand that there is no guarantee of employment at Directors Cut Productions following the placement.
  • Oxford graduates can apply within a limit of seven years from matriculation. Please note that students who have not yet graduated are not eligible.
  • Those who are chosen for the final short-list must be available for interview by a small selection board in London or by Zoom in the week commencing Monday 17 April