OUR WHY
We support, elevate and inspire emerging creatives, so that we can all reach our full potential.
Support
by embracing our vulnerabilities
Elevate
through the power of sharing knowledge
Inspire
with the art of story telling
Graduating from the University of Portsmouth in July 2018
OUR STORY
Founded in 2019 by University friends Dom Edwards and Ben Thornton, The Arena was born out of collaboration and a need for change.
Hours invested in job applications, followed by radio silence. Opportunities that fell through and ends that never met on intern wages. Just a few of the many obstacles faced by creatives trying to get their foot in the door.
Within the creative industries, these challenges are often kept quiet and the cycle repeats for future generations. The countless experiences of struggle need no longer be accepted as industry standard.
At The Arena we want to create a forward-thinking community that pushes every individual to reach their full creative potential. A safe space to share stories of vulnerability and failure as we learn from our mistakes. A platform to shine a light on those working tirelessly, fighting to be in The Arena, and a hub for sharing knowledge, opportunities and guidance.
Written features
In The Arena with…
Whether it’s a story of roaring success or epic failure, there are so many important lessons we can learn from our fellow creatives. The Arena is a space for embracing our vulnerability, sharing our knowledge and telling our stories... in this feature, our guests do just that.
How to:
We’re not saying we have all the answers, but we’ve definitely learnt from our mistakes. In 'How To…' we’ll bring you the advice, we wish we’d known sooner. Plus some top tips from our special guests along the way.
Opinion
A creative without an opinion is like a pen without ink. Your voice is the most powerful tool you have, so if you’ve got something to say, say it. In this feature we’ll discuss industry issues, spotlight unsung heroes and break down all the other challenges we face as creatives.
The team
Dom Edwards
Co-founder of The Arena, Dom is a graphic designer, data humaniser and printmaker. He currently works within the world of branding and is driven by the power of collaboration. He loves to cycle, read and eat too much cheese (thanks to his french mother and family).
Ben Thornton
Co-founder of The Arena, Ben is a graphic designer with a distinct love for great ideas and design-led initiatives that tackle societal issues. Based in a boutique studio, he has the benefit of working across a huge expanse of projects and disciplines. His love of Bovril toast has the nation split.
Lauren Archer
Lauren is a creative marketer and project manager, heading up operations and marketing at The Arena. Her background and artistic strengths lie in music and performing arts. As both a songwriter and artist, she is a die-hard lover of the live music scene and champion for emerging talent.
Join the community!
The Arena is all about collaboration and lifting each other up. A space for designers, photographers, writers, musicians, animators, producers, filmmakers and more. Our ambition is to support, elevate and inspire, so that we can all reach our full creative potential - and we’d love you to join the community!