For designers launching their professional careers. With carefully structured support and career development, you take on the design of BYO summer production.
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We did a lot of research in developing our new set and costume design programme, and what came up time and time again was that young designers need to be designing – they need opportunities to flex their creative muscles and create their own productions where they are in charge. It's the best way for them to learn, improve, and make a splash in the industry.
So our summer programme does just that. Under mentorship of a world-class designer, they will develop plans for a full-scale production alongside a designer on our parallel opera directing programme. Our next summer programme for directors will run for a year before final performances in summer 2026. Applications will open in spring 2025.
There are loads of different routes into a design career, so our minimum criteria are deliberately very low. But you must be over 18 and have a UK bank account in your name. Foreign applicants are welcome, but you must be able to satisfy those criteria. BYO isn't able to sponsor visas or offer advice.
Taking part in any BYO programme is free, and there is no application fee beyond your membership to BYO hub.
We offer reduced or free BYO hub premium membership to care leavers, people granted asylum in the UK, people seeking asylum in the UK, full or part time carers, people with no immediate family or no connection to them, single parents, people with physical or mental disabilities and people with long term illnesses. Email hub@byo.org.uk to explain your circumstances. If your circumstances aren't listed but you feel like you need help, email us anyway.
Yes! Once you're offered a place on the summer programme you'll be able to apply for bursaries to help with any travel or accomodation costs you might run into on the programme.
To be able to apply for this programme you need to have a premium hub membership. It costs just £33 a year and unlocks access to all applications and live and online events that run throughout the year. If you're not already a premium member you'll be asked to become one before you can fill out the application form.