OUR IMPACT
Short Supply builds paid pathways into creative careers outside London.
Based in the North of England, we work with early-career and underrepresented artists — particularly those from working-class, queer, and regional backgrounds — to turn creative potential into sustainable livelihoods.
Founded in 2019, Short Supply has supported thousands of artists through skills training, paid opportunities, and partnerships with cultural and civic institutions. Our work focuses on access, fair pay, and progression — ensuring talent isn’t lost simply because it sits outside traditional networks.
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Our impact is measured not just in participation, but in paid work, skills gained, and long-term viability for early-career artists.
We focus on outcomes that matter: who gets access, who gets paid, and who is able to stay working in the creative industries
The majority of artists we work with are people who are systematically underrepresented in the creative industries.
This includes:
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Artists from working‑class backgrounds
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Artists based outside London
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Queer, disabled, and marginalised creatives
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Early‑career artists navigating the gap between education and paid work
We design our programmes to be low‑barrier, transparent, and accessible — recognising that talent is evenly distributed,
but opportunity is not.
What Changes Because of Our Work
Our programmes are designed to create tangible shifts in artists’ careers. Across our activity, we consistently see:
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Increased confidence in pricing, contracts, and negotiation
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New paid commissions, exhibitions, or freelance work within six months
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Stronger professional networks and industry visibility
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Reduced reliance on unpaid labour
Post‑programme feedback shows that the majority of participants go on to secure paid creative work as a direct result of engaging with Short Supply.
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Programmes
Driving Impact
ShortCut Sessions
Skills‑focused training supporting artists to build sustainable creative careers. Sessions cover pricing, marketing, funding, contracts, and professional development.
MADE IT Graduate Art Prize
A national platform for emerging artists that provides paid opportunities, visibility, and professional recognition at a critical early career stage.
Exhibitions, Commissions and Opportunities
We deliver exhibitions and commissions that prioritise fair pay, transparent selection processes, and long‑term artist development.
“Short Supply helped me understand how to value my work properly. Within months I had my first paid commission and the confidence to say no to unpaid opportunities.”
— Emily, Artist & Programme participant, Liverpool
Artist Outcomes
Jay S. — Liverpool
Self-taught digital artist
Jay accessed Short Supply’s open opportunities after discovering the organisation online. Following a paid group exhibition, they reported increased confidence in applying for work and have since secured further freelance creative work with regional partners.
Hannah P. — Preston
Illustrator
After engaging with Short Supply’s professional development support, Hannah successfully negotiated fair pay for a commission for the first time. She now generates regular income from illustration work and continues to build a sustainable client base without relying on unpaid opportunities.
Leah K. — Salford
Multidisciplinary artist
Through a Short Supply commission delivered in partnership with a local cultural venue, Leah received her first publicly funded artist fee. She has since gone on to deliver paid workshops and was re-commissioned by the same organisation the following year.
Experiments
and New Work
Alongside programme delivery,
Mollie and Bek lead ongoing research projects into creative practice, sustainability, and access — including 100 Ideas, a public experiment in testing creative ideas in real time.
Follow us on Instagram @shortsupplymcr
Looking Ahead
Our ambition is to scale this impact nationally — building a recognised alternative pathway into the creative industries that does not depend on location, privilege, or unpaid labour.
By investing in artists as workers and creative professionals, we believe the sector — and the economy around it — becomes stronger, fairer, and more resilient.