Museums and young people’s creative career choices: young people profiles and information needs

This working paper examines the information and support needs experienced by young people who are choosing creative career pathways, and the role that museums may potentially play in filling these needs. Based on a three-year study on the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Young People’s Programme, the paper provides information about the process of career choice, influencers and needs. On this basis, it offers an in-depth and structured look at young people’s career choice and support needs, by identifying five profiles or personas representing young people with similar or close characteristics regarding decision-making and the career progression stage in which they find themselves. The five personas – The Selector, The Multifaceted Creative, The Decided, The Switcher and The Explorer – can be used for designing or testing the relevance of future informative and guidance programmes for young people interested in creative careers.