Get Involved — Join The State of the Arts!

Welcome to The State of the Arts (TSOTA) — the leading platform for covering arts & culture in West Yorkshire and beyond.

For ten years, we’ve been sharing stories from across the creative industries, from fine art and indie film to drag fashion and jazz festivals. Our writers, podcasters, and creators have collaborated with organisations like Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) and Bradford 2025, and interviewed everyone from museum directors to world-famous DJs.

Now, we’re looking for new writers and digital content creators to join our growing team.

Why Join TSOTA?

Be part of a dynamic creative community that’s shaping the cultural conversation in the region.

By joining us, you’ll:

• Build your portfolio and professional network in arts and culture.
• Gain hands-on experience in writing, journalism, publishing and comms.
• Work with a supportive editorial team to refine your craft and share your voice.
• Access press passes for all sorts of creative events.
• Help the growth and success of our ambitious grassroots media company.

Writer Role

Our writers are the heart of TSOTA. Whether you’re reviewing an exhibition, interviewing an artist, or sharing your take on a cultural issue, your work helps document and define the creative spirit of the North.

What You’ll Do: 

• Pitch articles — or pick up commissions from our editors (press passes are usually free for accredited events—just check with us before booking). 
• Cover live events, exhibitions, performances, and cultural trends. 
• Collaborate with our editorial team to refine your pieces before publication.
  

What We’re Looking For: 

• A deep passion for arts and culture.
• An interest in your local creative scene.
• A commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and thoughtful storytelling.
• Ability to contribute at least one article a month.

Digital Content Creator Role

We’re also expanding our digital storytelling and want a creative content maker who can help us grow our online presence, especially on Instagram.

What You’ll Do:

• Produce engaging video content — reels, interviews, event coverage.
• Attend preview events to capture stories visually.
• Work with our Editors to plan and post content.
• Help build TSOTA’s online community and ultimately help us covert it into income.
  

Ideal Skills:

• Experience with editing tools like CapCut, Canva, or Adobe Creative Cloud.
• A sharp eye for storytelling and visual style.
• Enthusiasm for exploring the North’s cultural landscape.

Expectations & Support: 

• Submit at least one article or video every month, or 12 spread throughout the year. Most write monthly, or will have a flurry of activity between busy periods such as exam season – but our regular writers should not be writing once and then disappearing without saying anything.
• We have a team of specialist editors that look after the site and the project. We will guide you throughout your role and provide ongoing communication, keeping you involved with everything TSOTA has planned. We will communicate with you via email.
• Follow our Style & Journalism Guidelines (we’ll share these when you join).
• Repost and share published work on your socials.
• Our opportunities expand beyond writing, such as working on the podcast, social media and design. Once commitment has been shown, if you find these elements of TSOTA interesting there will be room for you to do more.

Payment & Opportunities: 

TSOTA is currently volunteer-run, with all profits reinvested into site upkeep and growth. However, we regularly seek funding and paid partnerships to expand opportunities for our contributors.

How to Apply:

Think you’d be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you!

Apply now to join The State of the Arts as a Writer or Digital Content Creator: https://forms.gle/rRPoJMQeKjM52n85A