The Children’s Media Conference Launches Bursary Scheme
Skwigly
This year’s Children’s Media Conference (CMC) sees the launch of its inaugural Bursary Scheme – a commitment to enable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend the event and get their first foot in the door of the children’s industry.
Greg Childs says: “During lockdown we were able to successfully offer online registration to CMC to a number of young people who did not have the means to attend an industry event. Since returning to Sheffield in person, although we have wanted to continue this support, the costs of travel and accommodation have prevented us from being able to. So, following the suggestion of the CMC Advisory Committee, we started to raise specific funding for a CMC Bursary Scheme.”
The plan is now able to go ahead because a key sponsor has come on board – legal firm Mishcon de Reya. They will support the set up and first year administration of the scheme, enabling it to launch in time for CMC 2025.
The Bursary plan has also been supported by some of the sponsors for this year’s CMC who have volunteered an additional 5% on sponsorship to help pay for bursaries next year.
“Thanks to Mishcon de Reya and our other sponsors, we can now be confident that next summer we will be able to invite young people to join us who would never formally be able to get to CMC,” adds Greg Childs.
CMC’s 2024 event will include a packed schedule of keynotes and panels tackling the urgent issues facing the children’s media industry and young audiences. The conference sessions and networking events will take place at the Showroom Cinema, the City Hall, the Cathedral and other venues in Sheffield.
After the conference delegates will have access to the entire event on video with complete coverage of all the topics explored in Sheffield. Including extensive research insights in “Understanding Kids”, the ever-popular practical strand “The Art of…”, the CMC ”Inclusivity Now” panels which offer deep understanding of routes to diversity and inclusion, and a new strand “Sustainability Now” which will offer the same practical approach to the issues and opportunities around content associated with climate change. As always, business intelligence features at the core of the programme with sessions on international co-production development, digital distribution, leadership of creative companies and setting out as a freelancer or SME.