Youth Radio Apprenticeship at Dublab

Access to Creative Industry Employment (sponsored by Snap Foundation)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative

Through this apprenticeship program, Dublab is working to address the lack of professional opportunity and gatekeeping that can often happen in creative industries. It can be incredibly challenging for young people without connections to gain entry level jobs, necessary skills, or a professional network that will support their future working in audio, music, radio or broadcasting. We are especially interested in working with youth from historically marginalized backgrounds, as they are more deeply impacted by these issues of access, and also bear a more challenging financial burden that may deter them from accessing these skills through expensive courses, or unpaid internships. We see this program as addressing issues of diversity within the audio, music, radio, and broadcasting professions. This program has the potential to create clear and committed pathways for those from historically marginalized backgrounds to build exciting creative and professional careers in audio.

With support from LA2050 Grants Challenge, Dublab will develop and launch an apprenticeship program geared towards youth, ages 18-25 who come from historically marginalized backgrounds–BIPOC, queer, trans, low income, immigrant, system-impacted, disabled, etc…The program will provide paid opportunities for young adults to gain professional skills in radio creation, administration, and broadcast and to work closely with Dublab staff and DJs. Through this initiative, Dublab will launch an open call for applications online, and promote through social media. The organization will review and select two applicants to be awarded the apprenticeships, privileging those living within a 5 mile radius of Dublab’s new University Park location. They’ll receive an annual salary of $30,000 to work 30 hours per week for 1 year. They will work closely with various staff members and DJs at the organization, learning everything from station management and communications, grant writing, and events production, to show development and technical skills. Each Apprentice will have the opportunity to gain a wide variety of knowledge, while also honing one or two specific skills of their choosing so that they leave with professional experience and technical expertise, as well as strong recommendations. The goal of the program is to offer a robust early professional experience that will set participants on a path for success within the audio, music, internet radio, and/or podcast industries.

With this program, Dublab is envisioning a robust future for radio, music, and audio that is reflective of the incredible diversity of LA County. We see a creative industry that offers opportunities for young people to make a living, while getting their foot in the door and gaining the skills and networks that they will need to build a sustainable creative career. While this grant would support the first pilot run of the program, we can already see the potential for rippling impact of mentorship, diverse networks, and opportunity that will reach many more people, by simply offering robust apprenticeships to a few excellent candidates.

This grant would support the initial pilot year of this program. In the first year, success would be defined as Dublab setting up an application and acceptance process, onboarding two apprentices. We would develop a robust and impactful syllabus with hands on opportunities, skill development, mentorship, and opportunities to meet professionals in the field, creatives, and work closely with Dublab staff. We would solicit feedback from the first year apprentices, honing the program with consistent improvement overtime. Additionally, we envision success as being able to fundraise for this program ongoingly, however this opportunity to pilot with LA 2050 would surely be a significant catalyst in our ability to do that.