My name is Kirsten and I am entering my final year at the University of Glasgow, studying English Literature and Theatre Studies. This summer, I completed a 12-week internship at CentreStage through the Saltire Scholars Programme. This experience has provided me with practical experience in marketing and communications, while helping me to develop confidence in my own abilities and a stronger understanding of community impact.
Founded in 2006, CentreStage is a charity which operates under the belief that anyone can benefit from active participation in the arts. CentreStage’s values of hope, aspiration, inclusion and joy underpin everything that happens at this incredible organisation, from delivering inclusive community programmes, to running shows and events.
Over the summer, I worked on a range of marketing and communications tasks. I created content for social media, tailoring messaging across platforms, and analysing engagement. I also collaborated with the sales and events team to coordinate promotional materials for the summer programme. Internally, I launched new initiatives, including a weekly selling point spotlight and a monthly newsletter, both designed to increase engagement and communication across the organisation.
One of my proudest moments was bringing our fundraising campaign, ‘Share a Smile’, to life. CentreStage participants are encouraged to share their happy memories on social media, whether that was performing on stage for the first time, or simply feeling supported in a creative space. I originally developed this campaign for my interview, and seeing it evolve into a positive and impactful campaign was incredibly rewarding.
CentreStage offered an environment that encouraged my creativity. I was trusted to take ownership of my work and contribute my own ideas. Just as importantly, I felt genuinely welcomed and supported by a passionate team whose commitment to their community is truly inspiring. This experience has confirmed that this is the kind of career I would like to pursue, and that I thrive in purpose driven environments.
Being a Saltire Scholar is actively shaping my personal and professional journey. Embracing every opportunity given to me has been the best part of this experience. My advice to any future scholars would be to trust your ideas, and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. These internships are a great opportunity to try something new, and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about it to apply!
